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Monday, June 18, 2012

Spanish phrases with my coffee



When I visit Spanish cafes, many of the packets of sugar that accompany my coffee contain a phrase or saying. Here's two that I saw recently...

"Cuando creíamos que teníamos todas las respuestas, de pronto, cambiaron todas las preguntas".

This translates as...

"When we thought we had all the answers, suddenly, they changed all the questions".

I prefer the observation made by my friend Jaime Gandiel

"When they finally had all the answers, they died".

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The 2nd phrase is attributed to Confucious...

Exigete mucho a ti mismo y espera poco de los demás. Así te ahorrarás disgustos.

Push yourself a lot of yourself and expect little of others. This will save you trouble.



more blogs by Robert Bovington...
"Photographs of Spain"
"Spanish Impressions"
"postcards from Spain"
"you couldn't make it up!"
"a grumpy old man in Spain"
"bits and bobs"
"Spanish Art"
"Books About Spain"
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Sunday, March 11, 2012

Other blogs by Robert Bovington

If you like my "Spanish Expressions" blog, you may like to view some of my other blogs:-













You may also like to view my WordPress blogs:-

"Spanish Impressions"
"postcards from Spain"
"Books About Spain"
"bits and bobs"
"Spanish Expressions"
"Photographs of Spain"
"Spanish Art"
"a grumpy old man inSpain"
"you couldn't make it up!"

Robert Bovington
March 2012

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

El mal entra a brazadas y sale a pulgaradas

The  literal translation of this proverb is:
    "The evil enters with strokes and leaves in pinches."

An equivalent English saying is:
    "Mischief comes by the pound and goes away by the ounce."

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Another Spanish expression


Al desdichado hace consuelo tener compania en su suerte y duelo.

Literal translation: The unlucky one finds consolation in being accompanied by his luck and in his pain.

Meaning of the phrase: Two in distress makes sorrow less.