This third helping of regional Italian sayings are from Campania and Emilia Romagna. They are thin but tasty slices of wisdom, which I hope will make you smile:
Three Sayings from Campania
On the need to take chances if you want to get anywhere:
‘Chi 'nfruce nun luce.’
('Those who hide can’t shine.')
The brevity and simplicity of agricultural metaphors make them timeless, and this one is no exception:
‘Chiove dint' 'a terra toia.’
('It rains on your land.')
All is going well for you.
As visually eloquent as any verse by Tennyson:
'Chi semmena spine nun adda ji scauzo.’
('Those who sow thorns shouldn’t walk barefoot.')
Three Sayings from Emilia Romagna
On the limits of memory and experience:
‘Ed quall ch’ha da bvgnir a’n gh’è vec ch’a’s ricorda.’
(‘No old man remembers what is to come.’)
Brief and simple like Spring itself:
‘Avril al la fiôr, maz al gh’dà l’udôr.’
(‘April brings the flower, May the scent.’)
On trouble and ageing:
‘Da zôven a ‘s zerch I guai, da vec I vénnen da per lôr.’
(‘The young seek trouble, but trouble find its way to the old all by itself.’)
Over the last few days, I have learnt that most local sayings have two things in common - they use small words to talk about big things and their value increases the more you share them. And these qualities make them nothing short of priceless.
Alberico Collina
Three Sayings from Campania
On the need to take chances if you want to get anywhere:
‘Chi 'nfruce nun luce.’
('Those who hide can’t shine.')
The brevity and simplicity of agricultural metaphors make them timeless, and this one is no exception:
‘Chiove dint' 'a terra toia.’
('It rains on your land.')
All is going well for you.
As visually eloquent as any verse by Tennyson:
'Chi semmena spine nun adda ji scauzo.’
('Those who sow thorns shouldn’t walk barefoot.')
Three Sayings from Emilia Romagna
On the limits of memory and experience:
‘Ed quall ch’ha da bvgnir a’n gh’è vec ch’a’s ricorda.’
(‘No old man remembers what is to come.’)
Brief and simple like Spring itself:
‘Avril al la fiôr, maz al gh’dà l’udôr.’
(‘April brings the flower, May the scent.’)
On trouble and ageing:
‘Da zôven a ‘s zerch I guai, da vec I vénnen da per lôr.’
(‘The young seek trouble, but trouble find its way to the old all by itself.’)
Over the last few days, I have learnt that most local sayings have two things in common - they use small words to talk about big things and their value increases the more you share them. And these qualities make them nothing short of priceless.
Alberico Collina
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