Learning a new language isn’t just about grammar charts and verb drills—it’s about feeling how ideas live in that language. Spanish sayings and quotes are small but powerful windows into everyday wisdom: they’re short, musical, and surprisingly practical. Use them to encourage a friend, caption a photo, or break the ice with native speakers.
Before we dive deeper, try these three bite-size lines you can start using today. They’re short, memorable, and come with simple pronunciations so you can sound confident from the first try.
| Spanish Quote | English Translation | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Al mal tiempo, buena cara. | In difficult times, keep a positive attitude. | A timeless reminder to face challenges with optimism and grace. |
| Lo bueno, si breve, dos veces bueno. | What’s good—if brief—is twice as good. | A witty saying that values simplicity and quality over excess. |
| Vale la pena. | It’s worth it. | A short but powerful phrase that celebrates perseverance and purpose. |
| No hay mal que por bien no venga. | Every cloud has a silver lining. | Encourages finding good even in life’s toughest moments. |
| Más vale tarde que nunca. | Better late than never. | Reminds us it’s never too late to start or make things right. |
| A quien madruga, Dios le ayuda. | God helps those who rise early. | A call to discipline, effort, and initiative in daily life. |
| Donde hay amor, hay vida. | Where there is love, there is life. | A simple truth that connects love with vitality and purpose. |
| El que persevera, alcanza. | He who perseveres, succeeds. | Spanish wisdom that celebrates persistence as the key to achievement. |
Spanish Quotes About Life
It is essential to examine the well-known expressions about life and contemplation in order to understand the purpose of our existence.
Just like there are meaningful expressions in English and other languages, the Spanish language also offers a rich collection of thought-provoking life phrases that could potentially alter your perspective.
Quotes in Spanish About Family
- "La familia es donde comienza la vida y el amor nunca termina." - Anónimo
"Family is where life begins and love never ends." - "La familia es la mayor riqueza que uno puede tener en la vida." - Anónimo
"Family is the greatest wealth one can have in life." - "La familia es un refugio en un mundo despiadado." - Christopher Lasch
"Family is a refuge in a ruthless world." - "El amor de una familia es el mayor regalo que uno puede tener." - Anónimo
"The love of a family is the greatest gift one can have." - "La familia es como las ramas de un árbol, todos crecemos en direcciones diferentes pero nuestras raíces siguen siendo las mismas." - Anónimo
"Family is like the branches of a tree, we all grow in different directions, but our roots remain the same."
La familia es la base fundamental de nuestra sociedad. (Family is the fundamental basis of our society.)
Anónimo (Anonymous)
Spanish Quotes About Life and Love
These short Spanish quotes deliver useful messages that you can use in your everyday life. Whether you memorize them, already know Spanish and can read them, or simply remember the English translation, you can learn a thing or two from these quotes!
“La belleza que atrae rara vez coincide con la belleza que enamora.”
“The beauty that attracts rarely matches the beauty that makes you fall in love.”
You can apply this quote to more than just romantic love. What it means is that what attracted you to a thing or person initially is rarely the same beauty that keeps you enamored in the long term. For example, maybe you were drawn to the glamour of makeup art but found that when you do it, you also feel calm and relaxed. It becomes your meditative state and that is the beauty of it that keeps you in love.
“Los ataques de risa con los amigos son vida.”
“Laughing attacks with friends keeps me alive.”
It’s refreshing to have times with your friends where you just laugh and laugh, maybe even for no real reason. Feeling relaxed and free with people you love truly makes you feel more alive! This small Spanish quote encourages us to cherish great moments with friends.
“Uno siempre vuelve a los lugares donde amó a la vida.”
“You always return to the place where you loved life.”
Whether it’s a literal place geographically, a type of place like a library or farm, or a person, you always seek out the places that once made you happy. In the song “Las Simples Cosas” this idea is followed up with the realization that those things you love are notably absent in your regular life. You have to seek them out.
“El amor hace la revolución.”
“Love makes revolution.”
This expressive quote is meant to inspire hope and change. Literally, a love revolution!
“La única persona que necesitas en tu vida, es aquella que demuestra que te necesita en la suya.”
“The only person you need in your life is the one who shows that he needs you in his.”
If you’re ever in doubt about who is actually important in your life, remember this quote.
“Eres la casualidad más bonita que llegó a mi vida.”
“You’re the most beautiful chance that ever came into my life.”
This is a romantic quote you can learn to say to your sweetheart. It means “I’m so glad we met. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me.”
“En esta vida no hay nada como un buen amigo.”
“In this life, there’s nothing like a good friend.”
Above all, friends are who you can turn to to always have your back, tell you what you need to hear, and help you through difficult times. Of course, your family and significant other can also be your good friends, so this quote is suitable for anyone you feel close to in your life.
“Al mal tiempo, buena cara.”
“To bad weather, good face.”
This phrase can be interpreted as “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” It means that you should face challenges head-on and with a good attitude.
“La verdad adelgaza, pero no quiebra.”
“The truth can be stretched thin, but it never breaks.”
Literally, this phrase means “The truth can be slimmed down but it doesn’t crack.” The idea in this proverb is that there is a sliver of truth in everything, even if the truth has been changed so much that it’s barely there anymore.
Motivational Spanish Quotes
In every language, you can find an endless supply of inspirational and motivational quotes. Something about the ideas being in a different language originally can help you feel even more motivated. Stock up on your go-to inspirational mantras with these Spanish quotes with meaning.
- “Haciendo y deshaciendo se va aprendiendo.”
Translation: “It’s by doing and undoing that we learn”
The idea behind this quote is that you learn through trial and error. You need to make mistakes and figure things out in order to really understand and move forward. - “El arte de vencer se aprende en las derrotas.”
Translation: “The art of winning is learnt through defeats.”
This quote is attributed to Simón Bolivar, a soldier who helped secure South American independence from Spanish colonial rule. So, if there’s someone who knows a thing or two about learning success from failure, it’s the person who learned how to liberate countries and become president. - “Tener un piano no te hace pianista.”
Translation: “Having a piano doesn’t make you a pianist.”
On its face, this quote might sound snarky. But it simply means that without the effort to actually learn, you will never be more than an amateur no matter how much you might appear to be otherwise. You certainly don’t want to be a fake expert about something you really don’t know much about! - “Deja de buscar la felicidad en el mismo lugar en el que la perdiste.”
Translation: “Stop looking for happiness in the same place where you lost it.”
The opposite idea of the “uno siempre vuelve” quote above, the idea behind this saying is that you can’t expect a situation that has historically made you miserable to suddenly make you happy. If it’s a workplace, city, person, or something else, stop expecting it to make you happy if all it has done is take your happiness away. - “El orgullo no engorda, trágatelo de vez en cuando.”
Translation: “Pride does not fatten; swallow it once in a while.”
It’s important to remain humble in life. Recognize times when it’s important for you to admit that you are wrong or ignorant. Don’t let your ego get in the way!
Escribe lo que no debe ser olvidado. (Write what should not be forgotten.)
Isabel Allende
- “Tu único límite es tu mente.”
Translation: “Your only limit is your mind.”
If you can believe it, you can achieve it! - “Ya que estamos de paso, dejemos huellas bonitas.”
Translation: “While we’re passing through, let’s leave beautiful footprints.”
The idea of this quote is similar to ‘leave everything a little better than you found it.’ - “Cree en ti mismo y serás imparable.”
Translation: “Believe in yourself and you’ll be unstoppable’.
Pretty straightforward; the key to success is believing you are successful. - “Podrán robarte las ideas pero nunca el talento.”
Translation: “They may steal your ideas but never your talent.”
They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Keep that in mind if you ever find yourself in a situation where someone has stolen your ideas.
While you may be able to pursue the legal avenues to get things set right, you also need to remember that you are the one with the original mind. Don’t let it get you down. - “La vida es corta. Vive apasionadamente y siente la felicidad.”
Translation: “Life is short. Live passionately and feel happiness.”
A short, sweet word of wisdom. Ensure you enjoy life while you’re living it! - "La inteligencia sin ambición es un pájaro sin alas." - Salvadore Dali
Translation: Intelligence without ambition is a bird without wings.
Dali is a good source of famous Spanish quotes since he was quite eccentric. Many of his phrases are very motivational! In this quote, he is reminding us that it's not enough to have an idea, you must act upon it for it to mean anything. - "Nunca debes ponerte nervioso por nada. Lo que hoy parece importante mañana ya no lo es." - Tito Vilanova
Translation: "You should never get nervous about anything. What today seems important tomorrow isn't so anymore."
Another entry for quotes in Spanish by famous people, this quote by professional football coach Vilanova reminds us to stay focused on the present and not be anxious about the future.
Funny Spanish Quotes
Finding humor in another language is a very specific way to feel tickled by knowledge! Here are some short quotes in Spanish that give insight into funny advice.
- “Dame pan y dime tonto.”
Translation: “Give me bread and call me a fool.”
This might be a little odd and hard to understand at first. It means that as long as you’re taken care of, or as long as you’re getting what you need out of someone, they can call you whatever they want. You know what you’re doing, so it doesn’t matter if naysayers try to bring you down! - “No estoy loca, soy mentalmente divertida.”
Translation: “I’m not crazy, I’m mentally fun!”
This silly phrase can be used as a joke, especially after a situation where you might have done something a bit quirky. - “Si no tardas mucho, te espero toda la vida.”
Translation: “If it doesn’t take long, I’ll wait for you all my life.”
At first, this sounds like it could be a sweet quote about never forgetting your love. Then you realize it’s a joke about only waiting if the wait isn’t actually that long. - “Si la vida te da limones…¡pide sal y tequila!”
Translation: "If life gives you lemons... ask for salt and tequila!" I’m sure you’ve heard ‘if life gives you lemons, make lemonade’ at least a few times in your life. Well, the Spanish version of this idea is a little more, well, Spanish!
- “No saber ni papa de algo.”
Translation: “Not knowing a potato about something.”
In certain Spanish-speaking regions, especially South America and Mexico, potatoes are called ‘papas,’ not ‘patata.’ Either way, to not know ‘a potato’ about something means that you don’t know squat. - “No tener pelos en la lengua.”
Translation: “To not have hair on the tongue.”
What a strange saying! When this phrase is used, it means the person spoke frankly. They didn’t sugarcoat things or beat around the bush; they were direct and didn’t mince words. - “Quien nada sabe, de nada duda.”
Translation: “He that knows nothing, doubts nothing.”
Saying this phrase implies that ignorant people are gullible. - “Las penas con pan son menos.”
Translation: “Pain with bread is less.”
A bad situation is less bad if you have something good (probably food) with you. - “Por si las moscas.”
Translation: “For if there are flies.”
This phrase basically means ‘ just in case.’ In this case, ‘flies’ means whatever could happen that would be an inconvenience. That could be rain, an empty gas talk, a place that only takes cash… whatever it may be that you feel you need to look out for, even if it’s unlikely.
So, have you learned any new phrases you’re excited to use yet?
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