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Folk Sayings on Health
Italy - Pre 1969 or Around the World, Click here

Italy
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Proverbs or Folk Sayings on Sickness and Health (general) -- Italy (National)
     
      o in Italian: Buona salute e la vera ricchezza.
      o in English: Good health is true wealth.
     
      o in Italian: Chi non ha testa ha gambe.
      o in English: (Literally) Who has Not a head has legs. (Meaning) Who doesn't think ahead, runs around to achieve results which would have instead taken little time with some planning.
     
      o in Italian: Finche e vita, c'e speranza.
      o in English: As long as there is life, there is hope.
     
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Italy
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Proverbs or Folk Sayings on Doctors (Positive) -- Italy (National)
     
      o in Italian: A confessore, medico e avvocoto non tenr il ver celato.
      o in English: To one's confessor, doctor and lawyer one must be truthful.
     
      o in Italian: Chi non obbedisce al medico, obbedira al becchino.
      o in English: He who does not obey his doctor, obeys the bottle.
     
Contributed by: Image courtesy of The New York Public Library, Digital Gallery #810680

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Italy
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Proverbs or Folk Sayings on Sickness and Health -- Doctors (Negative) -- Italy (National)
     
      o in Italian: Dagli avvocati e medici mi salvi Dio.
      o in English: May God save me from lawyers and doctors.
     
      o in Italian: Chi vuol viver sano stia dal medico lontano.
      o in English: He who wants to keep sane should live far from a doctor.
     
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Italy
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Proverbs or Folk Sayings on Sickness and Health -- Medications -- Italy (National)
     
      o in Italian: Chi piglia medicine senaz male consuma l'interesse e il capitale.
      o in English: He who takes medicine without being sick is consuming all his capital and interest.
     
      o in Italian: I medici e la guerra spopolano la terra.
      o in English: Medicine and war depopulate the earth.
     
      Contributed by Gemma Forliano
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Italy
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Italian Proverbs or Folk Sayings on Sickness and Health -- Preventive Medicine -- Nutrition -- Italy (National)
     
      o in Italian: Una mela al giorno leva il medico di torno.
      o in English: An apple a day keeps the doctor away.
     
      o in Italian: Bere acqua la mattina e una buona medicina.
      o in English: (Literally) Drinking water in the morning is good medicine. (Meaning) Drinking water in the morning is good for you. (However, if it is said sarcastically) As you can't afford anything else, drink water, and at least you'll not die of thirst.
     
     
Contributed by: Image courtesy of The New York Public Library, Digital Gallery #1107618

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Italy (National)
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Proverbs or Folk Sayings on Health -- Sleep -- Italy (National)
     
     
      o in Italian (Dialect): O' chiu' bello d' 'a vita e' 'o durmi.
      o in English: The best thing about life is sleeping.
     
      o in Italian: Se vuoi sognare male, va'a letto col giornale.
      o in English: If you want to have nightmares, go to bed with a newspaper.
     
      o in Italian: Le critiche fan pansare, le lodi addormentare.
      o in English: Criticism makes one think, praise makes one fall asleep.
     
     
     
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Italy
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Italian Proverbs or Folk Sayings on Sickness and Health -- Mental Health (general) -- Italy (National)
     
     
      o in Italian: Chi vuoi vivere e star bene -- prenda il mondo come viene.
      o in English: (Literally) Who wants to live and keep well -- takes the world as it comes. (Equivalent) Live and let live. Or, Take life as it is, and you'll do just fine. Or, Don't worry, be happy.
     
      o in Italian: Chi vuol vivere senza pene, prenda il mondo come viene.
      o in English: He who wants to live without pain, accepts the world as it comes.
     
      o in Italian: A mente curiosa e sagace - il troppo riposo non piace.
      o in English: To a curious and wise mind, too much rest will not be pleasing.
     
      o in Italian: Mente sana in corpo sano.
      o in English: (Literally) Mind whole, body whole. (Equivalent) Sound mind, sound body.
     
      o in Italian: Fatti i cazzi tuo, ca campi cent' anni.
      o in English: Mind your own business, and you'll live 100 years.
     
      o in Italian: Te se nasuda straca, te vivet per ripusa.
      o in English: You were born tired, you live to rest.
     
      o in Italian: La salute sempre e i soldi ora e momento.
      o in English: Health always and money right now!
     
     
Contributed by: Image courtesy of The New York Public Library, Digital Gallery #832727

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Italy
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Proverbs or Folk Sayings on Mental Health -- Happiness -- Italy (National)
     
      o in Italian: Il riso fa buon sangue.
      o in English: (Literally) Laughter is good for the blood. (Equivalent) Laughter is the best medicine.
     
      o in Italian: Fede, speranza e carita, sono le virtu per l'eterna felicita.
      o in English: Faith, hope and charity are the virtues that lead to eternal happiness.
     
Contributed by: Image courtesy of The Library of Congress #0072r

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Italy
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Proverbs or Folk Sayings on Health -- Mental Health -- Quality of Life -- Italy (National)
     
      o in Italian: Cuor contento, gran talento.
      o in English: Happy heart: great talent.
     
      o in Italian: Lo scherzo e di buon gusto, se fatto al momento giusto.
      o in English: Playing a trick (on someone) can be good fun if it is done at the right time.
     
      o in Italian: Con un po' di meditazione, di te stesso torni padrone.
      o in English: With a little meditation, you will be able to become master of yourself.
     
     
     
Contributed by: Image courtesy of the New York Public Library, Digital Gallery #818036

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Italy
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Proverb or Folk Saying on Mental Health -- Happiness -- the Weather -- Italy (National)
     
      o in Italian: Sole dopo tempesta mette gli uomini in festa.
      o in English: Sunshine after a storm puts people in a festive mood.
Contributed by: Image courtesy of The New York Public Library, Digital Gallery #1259180

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