Proverbs from all Sicilian speaking parts of the world.

C

  • Chi la dura la vinci.
    • Translation: He who perservers shall win.
    • English equivalent: Perservere and never fear.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 127. ISBN 0415096243. 
  • Cui mali accumensa, peju finisci.
    • English equivalent: A bad beginning makes a bad ending.
    • Meaning: "It is as impossible that a system radically erroneous, once commenced, should end well, as it is that a mathematical problem, commenced wrong, should come out right."
    • Source for meaning: William Henry Porter (1845). Proverbs: Arranged in Alphabetical Order .... Munroe and Company. p. 202. 
    • Emanuel Strauss (1994). "1". Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 1. ISBN 978-1-136-78978-6. 

E

  • È tintu lu nudu, chiu tintu lu sulu, ma megghiu sulu chi mala accumpagnatu.
    • English equivalent: Better be alone than in bad company.
    • "If the man who turnips cries,
      Cry not when his father dies,
      'Tis a proof that he had rather
      Have a turnip than his father."
    • Samuel Johnson, Anecdotes of Samuel Johnson (1786)
    • Source for proverb: Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 572. ISBN 0415096243. 

L

  • Lu tempu è priziusu.
    • Translation: Time is precious.
    • English equivalent: There is nothing more precious than time.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 1008. ISBN 0415096243. 

M

  • Medicu pietusu fa la chiaja verminusa.
    • Translation: A pious doctor makes putrid wounds.
    • English equivalent: Mild physician – putrid wounds/you need to crack an egg to make an omelet.
    • Meaning: Telling harsh truths constructively (to yourself as well) and stern measures makes for a good figurative and literal cure. To say or do something for the greater good.
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 710. ISBN 0415096243. 

P

  • Porta rispettu a lu locu unni stai.
    • English equivalent: Cast no dirt into the well that gives you water.
    • "People who can put themselves in the place of other people – who can understand the workings of their minds, need never worry about what the future has in store for them."
    • Dale Carnegie, How To Win Friends And Influence People (1934)
    • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 634. ISBN 0415096243. 

See also

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