Italian proverbs

Here are some proverbs and other well-known phrases in Italian.

Chi dice Siena, dice Palio.

He who mentions Siena, mentions the Palio (that city's famous horse-race).

Said of something that one cannot mention without calling some other thing to mind.

Chi troppo vuole, nulla stringe

He who wants too much, gets nothing.

Chi trova un amico, trova un tesoro.

He who finds a friend, finds a treasure.

Chi va piano, va sano; chi va sano, va lontano.

He who goes softly, goes safely; he who goes safely, goes far.

Commediante! Tragediante!

Comedian! Tragedian!

Exclaimed by Pope Pius VII during a violent scene that Napoleon made before him.

Eppur, si muove!

But it does move!

Galileo is supposed to have said this after being forced by the Church to abjure the heliocentric theory.

Fatti maschi, parole femmine.

Thoughts are male, words are female. or Manly deeds, womanly words.

Motto of Maryland

In bocca al lupo.

Into the wolf's mouth.

Used by students to wish each other good luck before exams. The response is Crepi! (May it die!)

L'Italia farà da sè.

Italy will take care of itself.

A common expression when Italy was in the process of reunification.

Lasciate ogni speranza, voi ch'intrate.

Abandon all hope, ye who enter here.

Inscribed above the gates of Hell in Dante's Inferno (III, 9)

Nel mezzo del cammin di nostra vita

Mi retrovai per una selva oscura

Ché la diritta via era smarrita...

In the middle of the road of our life/I found myself in a dark forest/As the straight path had been lost.

Opening lines of Dante's Inferno.

Se non è vero, è ben trovato.

If it's not true, it's a good story.

Tanto gentile e tanto onesta pare

la donna mia...

I see my lady, so gentle and so honest...

Famous opening lines of Dante's Sonnet 26 from La Vita Nuova

Traduttore, traditore.

Translator, traitor.

Tu duca, tu signore e tu maestro.

You are my guide, my lord, and my master.

Said by Dante to Virgil before entering Hell (Inferno, II, 140).

Vedi Napoli, e poi muori!

See Naples, and then die!

Used to express admiration for Naples.

L'abito non fa il monaco.

The habit does not make the monk. Clothes do not make the man.

A caval donato non si guarda in bocca.

Never look a gift horse in the mouth. Don't criticize gifts.

Rosso di sera, bel tempo si spera

Red sky in evening, we hope in good weather.