A Polyglot of Foreign Proverbs

Chi sa meglio nuotare, è il primo a sommergersi. The best swimmer is the first to drown himself.

Chi sa poco, presto lo dice. He who knows but little quickly tells it.

Chi semina spine, non vada scalzo. Who sows thorns should not go barefoot.

Chi serba, serba al gatto. Who saves, saves for the cat.

Chi serve al commune, ha cattivo padrone. He who serves the public has a sorry master.

Chi serve al commune, serve nessuno. Who serves the public, serves no one.

Chi servo si fa, servo s’aspetta. He who makes himself a servant is expected to remain a servant.

Chi si affoga, s’attaccherebbe a’ rasoj. A drowning man would catch at razors.

Chi si è scottato una volta, l’altra vi soffia su. He who has scalded himself once blows the next time.

Chi si fa fango, il porco lo calpestra. He that makes himself dirt is trod on by the swine.

Chi si fa pecorella, i lupi la mangiano. Make yourself a sheep and the wolves will eat you.

Chi si lascia mettere in spalla la capra, indi a poco è sforzato a portar la vacca. He who lets the goat be laid on his shoulders is soon after forced to carry the cow.

Chi si loda, s’imbroda. He who praises himself befouls himself.

Chi si marita in fretta, stenta adagio. Marry in haste, repent at leisure.

Chi si scusa, s’accusa. Who excuses himself accuses himself.

Chi si scusa senz’esser accusato, fa chiaro il suo peccato. Who excuses himself without being accused makes his fault manifest.

Chi soffia nella polvere, se ne empie gli occhi. He who blows upon dust fills his eyes with it.

Chi sta a vedere, ha due terzi del gioco. He who looks on has two-thirds of the game.

Chi sta bene, non si muova. Let him who is well off stay where he is.

Chi tace, acconsente. Silence gives consent.

Chi tardi arriva, mal alloggia. The late comer is ill lodged.

Chi tocca la pece, s’imbratta. He who touches pitch defiles himself.

Chi troppo abbraccia, nulla stringe. He who grasps too much holds nothing fast.

Chi tutto nega, tutto confessa. He who denies all confesses all.

Chi tutto vuole, tutto perde. All covet, all lose.

Chi un ne castiga, cento ne minaccia. He who chastises one threatens a hundred.

Chi va al mulino, s’infarina. He who goes to the mill gets befloured.

Chi va, lecca, e chi sta, secca. Who moves picks up, who stands still dries up.

Chi va piano, va sano, e chi va sano, va lontano. Who goes softly goes safely, and he that goes safely goes far.

Chi va, vuole; chi manda, non se ne cura. Who goes himself is in earnest, who sends is indifferent.

Chi vien dietro, serra l’uscio. The last comer shuts the door.

Chi vive a minuto, fà le spese a’ suoi ed agli altri. He who buys by the pennyworth keeps his own house and other men’s too.

Chi vive tra lupi, impara a urlare. He who lives among wolves learns to howl.

Chi vuol amici assai, ne pruovi pochi. Who would have many friends let him test but few.

Chi vuol ammazzar il suo cane, basta che dica ch’è arrabbiato. He who wants his dog killed has only to say he’s mad.

Chi vuol andar salvo per lo mondo, bisogna aver occhio di falcone, orecchio d’asino, viso di scimia, bocca di porcello, spalle di camello, e gambe di cervo. To go safely through the world you must have the eye of a falcon, the ear of an ass, the face of an ape, the mouth of a pig, the shoulders of a camel, and the legs of a deer.

Chi vuol arricchire in un anno, è impiccato in sei mesi. He who would be rich in a year gets hanged in six months.

Chi vuol assai, non dimandi poco. He who wants a good deal must not ask for a little.

Chi vuol con piacer mangiare, non veda cucinare. He who would relish his food must not see it cooked.

Chi vuol dar al cane, trova facilmente il bastone. He that would beat his dog can easily find a stick.

Chi vuol dell’acqua chiara, vada alla fonte. He who would have clear water should go to the fountain head.

Chi vuol esser lungo tempo vecchio, bisogna cominciar a buon’ora. He who would be long an old man must begin betimes.

Chi vuol esser mal servito tenga assai famiglia. He that would be ill served should keep plenty of servants.

Chi vuol goder la festa, digiuni la vigilia. He who would enjoy the feast should fast on the eve.

Chi vuol il lavoro mal fatto, paghi innanzi tratto. If you would have your work ill done, pay beforehand.

Chi vuol molti amici, non n’ha nessuno. He that seeks to have many friends never has any.

Chi vuol presto e ben, faccia da se. He that would have a thing done quickly and well must do it himself.

Chi vuol Quaresima corta, faccia debiti da pagar a Pasqua. Who wishes for a short Lent let him contract debts to be paid at Easter.

Chi vuol riposare, convien travagliare. He who would rest must work.

Chi vuol saldar piaga, non la maneggi. He that would heal a wound must not handle it.