While this list is not an exhaustive one, we feel it encapsulates a good core of the Italian spirit. And while the wisdom of sayings may be found in every culture, Italian sayings about life provide much in the way of inspiration, love of life, and humor.
When we think of places, or people, that seem to know a bit more about enjoying life or have an abundance of philosophy for the romance of life, we tend to think of places in the Mediterranean, like Italy.”
Because of this, Italian sayings about life are often cited, or sought for a reminder on what it means to live. Perhaps it has something to do with the ancient civilization that built Rome and rose from the Mediterranean soil, and so the philosophy of life is simply ingrained in the culture, like relics from the birthplace of antiquity.
Over time, Italians have garnered a reputation for being leaders in embodying love, philosophy, and life. Films such as “Eat, Pray, Love” have only served to increase that reputation (see for example, the character of Luca Spaghetti). There may be something Italians pass down from generation to generation that gives away to a continuation of that love for philosophical leanings, but whatever it is, Italian sayings about life provide an abundance of love, wisdom, and an ability to stop and make you think. Here we have compiled some of our favorite Italian sayings about life:
We hope they resonate with you, and maybe one or two may just work its way into your daily speech, or be delivered to someone else who might just need a good word or two for their own introspection.
1. Ma il cielo è sempre più blu (But the sky is always bluer…)
This saying, while not a typical or traditional Italian saying, comes from the song of the same name by Rino Gaetano, from 1975. A politically charged song examining the struggles and triumphs of Italians in the 70s, Ma il cielo è sempre più blu describes the various challenges Italian society faced. However, with the refrain being “but the sky is always bluer”, we interpret this to mean that despite the difficulties we face, the sky is always bluer – it’s a call for optimism, to look at the bright side of things. It’s a nice little reminder to remain resilient in the face of our struggles.
2. Quando il diavolo ti accarezza, vuole l’anima (When the devil caresses you, he wants the soul)
This one comes to us from one of our uncles – it’s a favorite saying of his. Leave it to Italians to portray the devil in such a seductive manner, a caress, the wanting of your soul. But beneath the seduction is a warning – be wary of someone’s overtures, for the pleasure or thing provided by the seducer may come at a high cost, and that cost being your soul.
3. Anni e bicchieri di vino non si contano mai (years and glasses of wine, never count)
We’ve heard this saying many times at the dinner table, often in the company of good friends. The meaning is simple, but in today’s world where there is an app to track everything, this sentiment is good advice to note that some things aren’t meant to be tracked with precision. And so, glasses of wine, and years, don’t need to be counted, just enjoyed.
4. Chi trova un amico, trova un tesoro (who finds a friend, finds a treasure)
A personal favorite, this saying sums up the beauty of friendship so perfectly. As we look back on the friendships we’ve had over these many years, we understand this saying even more as we age. The wonderful thing about this saying is that whenever a new friend is made, a new treasure is discovered, and this can happen at any stage in your life – what a beautiful thing.
5. Finché c’è vita c’è speranza (while there is life, there is hope)
In our experiences, Italians have a knack for being eternal optimists. If things don’t work out, or the unexpected happens, Italians find a way to keep dreaming, to keep living, and to keep hoping. There is always something to look forward to, and, as we noted above, ma il cielo è sempre più blu. To live with unbridled optimism is not always easy, but for those who take the chance to hope, it brings a depth and quality to life that few discover. Perhaps this is why Italians have such a long-life expectancy. Speranza, Speranza, cari amici.
There may be something Italians pass down from generation to generation that gives away to a continuation of that love for philosophical leanings, but whatever it is, Italian sayings about life provide an abundance of love
While this list is not an exhaustive one, we feel it encapsulates a good core of the Italian spirit. And while the wisdom of sayings may be found in every culture, Italian sayings about life provide much in the way of inspiration, love of life, and humor. We know that we’ll sprinkle these sayings more often in our daily lives, and we hope you will too. We hope at the very least, we’ve inspired you to cultivate your own collection of sayings that help you to dream, hope, and laugh like an Italian. We can’t think of any better ways to live.
