Spanish is a Romance language spoken by over 460 million people across Spain and Latin America. Originating in Castile, it has many regional dialects and uses the Latin alphabet, including the unique letter ñ. Known for its rich culture and expressive sayings, Spanish has produced countless thinkers, artists, and writers who’ve influenced the world.
Famous Short Spanish Quotes
- “La vida es sueño.” — Life is a dream.
- “El tiempo es oro.” — Time is gold.
- “Más vale tarde que nunca.” — Better late than never.
- “Donde hay amor, hay vida.” — Where there is love, there is life.
Individuals from Spanish-speaking countries have won a total of 24 Nobel prizes in a variety of disciplines, which just goes to show the international recognition that their thinking has received.
If you are learning Spanish, or have visited Spain or Latin America, then you might have already heard some of the names included in this list. By examining some of their quotes, you can learn about Spanish grammar, pick up some new Spanish vocabulary, as well as understand how Spanish speakers express themselves, plus a bit about the countries and backgrounds that they come from.
The only thing you can't learn about is differences in accents across the Spanish-speaking world.
All in all, there is a lot that can be learned from the quotes in this article, not just in terms of learning a foreign language that is spoken by 440 million native speakers, but also in terms of how we as individuals view the world that we live in.
So get comfortable as we take you through our list of 10 interesting quotes from the Spanish-speaking world.
Pablo Picasso Quotes
Los colores, igual que los rasgos, siguen los cambios de las emociones (Colors, like features, follow the changes of the emotions.)
In this quote, Picasso expertly sums up the relationship between colors and emotions.
If there was ever any confusion over the similarities and differences between Spanish and Portuguese, then it is thanks to people like Pablo Neruda for setting them apart.
Pablo Picasso was a revolutionary Spanish painter, sculptor, and printmaker who is widely regarded as one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. He is known for co-founding the Cubist movement and for his contributions to Surrealism and Symbolism.
Picasso's artistic career spanned over seven decades, during which he created thousands of works encompassing various styles and techniques. He is celebrated for iconic pieces like "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon," which is considered a seminal work in the development of modern art, and "Guernica," a powerful anti-war painting depicting the bombing of the Basque town during the Spanish Civil War.
What is Pablo Picasso famous for?
He's most famous for co-founding the Cubist movement, which challenged traditional notions of art by depicting subjects from multiple viewpoints in fragmented forms. Picasso's work spanned various styles and periods, including his Blue Period, Rose Period, and later explorations into Surrealism and neoclassicism.
His creativity wasn't confined to painting; he delved into sculpture, ceramics, printmaking, and collage, leaving an indelible mark on the art world with his unparalleled innovation and creativity.
Famous Pablo Picasso Quotes In Spanish And English
"Todo lo que puedes imaginar es real."
"Everything you can imagine is real."
"La inspiración existe, pero tiene que encontrarte trabajando."
"Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working."
"El arte es la mentira que nos permite conocer la verdad."
"Art is the lie that enables us to realize the truth."
If you are taking Spanish lessons (you can search for Spanish classes in India or any other location online) with a Spanish teacher, then ask him or her to dig out some of Picasso's paintings & quotes to study in your classes.
For most people, you don't need to be fluent in Spanish to understand the pain of losing someone close to you and not being able to forget that person!
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Miguel De Cervantes Quotes
No hay libro tan malo que no tenga algo bueno. (There is no book so bad that it doesn't have something good.)
Miguel de Cervantes was a Spanish writer of the late 16th and early 17th centuries, widely regarded as one of the greatest authors in world literature. He is best known for his masterpiece Don Quixote, a novel that revolutionized storytelling and laid the foundation for modern fiction.
Don Quixote cleverly satirizes the romantic tales of knights and heroism popular at the time, using humor and irony to explore deeper themes of idealism, reality, and the human struggle between dreams and truth. The story of the delusional yet noble knight and his loyal companion, Sancho Panza, continues to inspire readers and writers centuries later.
Cervantes’s legacy extends beyond literature — his work has shaped the Spanish language itself and influenced countless authors worldwide. Today, Spain’s Instituto Cervantes, an international organization promoting Spanish culture and language, proudly carries his name as a tribute to his enduring impact.
El que lee mucho y anda mucho, ve mucho y sabe mucho. (He who reads much and walks much, sees much and knows much.)
Octavio Paz
Aprender a dudar es aprender a pensar (To learn to doubt is to learn think)
Every man wants to change the world, to do something, but too often this is out of self-love, which gives terrifying results of vanity.
There is a very popular quote that fights against this notion:
This famous quote comes from Octavio Paz--poet, essayist, diplomat, and Nobel Prize in Literature Winner--who was born to a Mexican father and an Andalusian mother. The artist's work is imbued with multiple influences.
His poems are often a mix of styles and inspirations.
He was in Spain during the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s, and he took the side of the Republicans in the name of "anti-fascism". He only broke with communism after the end of the German-Soviet pact, so much so that by the end of his life, he was criticizing the Marxist governments of Cuba and Nicaragua.
Octavio Paz was inspired by his origins, his discoveries, and the history of the world and its various literary currents. With a life spent between many countries, including Mexico, the United States, Spain, France, and India, his work reflected his openness to the world.
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Salvador Dalí Quotes
La única diferencia entre un loco y yo es que yo no estoy loco. (The only difference between me and a madman is that I am not mad.)
Salvador Dalí was a highly influential surrealist artist born in Figueres, Spain, in 1904, and he passed away in 1989. Known for his eccentric personality and distinctive mustache, Dalí created artworks that often featured dreamlike, bizarre, and fantastical elements.
His paintings, such as "The Persistence of Memory" with its melting clocks, are some of his most famous works. Dalí's creativity extended beyond painting; he also worked in sculpture, film, photography, and other forms of art. His legacy continues to influence modern art and culture.
What is Salvador Dalí Famous For?
He gained fame for his unique and striking paintings that often featured dreamlike, bizarre imagery, distorted figures, and melting clocks. Dalí's creativity extended beyond painting; he also worked in sculpture, film, and photography, and even collaborated with Walt Disney on a short film called "Destino."
Para ser irremplazable uno debe siempre ser diferente. (In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different.)
Antoni Gaudí Quotes
Antoni Gaudí was a visionary Catalan architect born in 1852 in Reus, Spain, whose work became the hallmark of the Catalan Modernism movement. Known for his organic shapes, vibrant mosaics, and intricate details, Gaudí created some of Barcelona’s most iconic landmarks, including the still-unfinished Sagrada Família, Casa Batlló, and Casa Milà — masterpieces celebrated for their imaginative, nature-inspired designs.
Deeply influenced by nature, Gaudí’s architecture mimics natural forms like trees, waves, and caves, blending structure and art in groundbreaking ways. Though he died tragically in 1926, his innovative vision reshaped modern architecture and remains a defining symbol of Barcelona’s cultural and artistic identity.
Know the differences between Catalan and Spanish, and often assume them to be almost the same thing.
La línea recta pertenece a los hombres, la curva a Dios. (The straight line belongs to men, the curved one to God.)
Rafael Nadal Quotes
Rafael Nadal is a tennis legend, known for his incredible prowess on clay courts. Born in Spain in 1986, he's considered one of the greatest players in the history of the sport. His relentless style of play, powerful groundstrokes, and mental toughness have earned him numerous Grand Slam titles, including a record number of French Open victories.
Nadal's aggressive topspin-heavy game, coupled with his athleticism and never-give-up attitude, has made him a formidable opponent on any surface. He's also known for his sportsmanship and humility both on and off the court, which has endeared him to fans worldwide.
"I always work with a goal – and the goal is to improve as a player and a person. That, finally, is the most important thing of all."
"The harder the battle, the sweeter the victory."
"You have to accept that both things can happen - that you can win and you can lose."
"I'm not the best, but I try to be my best."
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Francisco Goya
Francisco Goya was a renowned Spanish painter and printmaker born in 1746 and active during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He is celebrated for his diverse body of work, which includes portraits, historical scenes, and darkly expressive works.
Goya's early career involved working as a court painter for Spanish royalty. However, his later works became more introspective and critical of society, reflecting his disillusionment with political and social unrest during his time, notably depicted in his series of etchings called "The Disasters of War."
One of his most famous paintings is "The Third of May 1808," capturing the atrocities of war and human suffering. His art style transitioned from the formal elegance of his earlier works to a more raw and emotive approach as he aged, marked by bold brushwork and haunting themes.
El sueño de la razón produce monstruos. (The sleep of reason produces monsters.)
Other Famous Personalities With Famous Quotes In Spanish & English
Ernesto "Che" Guevara
A well-known legend, Ernesto Rafael Che Guevara, remains today one of the symbols of the struggle for freedom around the world. A communist figure of the revolution in Cuba, he sought to extend the revolution to Bolivia, but also to Africa.
Latin America, in particular, has given the world several revolutionaries, mostly due to the long struggle against colonial rule. Simón Bolívar, Fidel Castro, Hugo Chávez, and Che Guevara are all left-wing revolutionaries who divide opinion enormously, but all claim to have fought imperialist powers.
Che in particular has become important in popular culture. His face can be found on t-shirts, posters, mugs, and murals.
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His largely legendary status lies in the fact that he died young (at the age of 39) whilst pushing for revolution in Bolivia, whereas other revolutionaries survived a lot longer.
The majority of quotes attributed to Che Guevara are unsurprisingly related to the revolutionary fight. Whereas other quotes in this collection have talked about love, friendship, and philosophy, this quote reflects his desire to keep fighting, no matter how heavily stacked against him the odds were.
Che Guevara Quotes in Spanish With Translation
"Hay que endurecerse sin perder jamás la ternura."
"You have to toughen up without ever losing tenderness."
Sé realista, busca lo imposible.”
“Be realistic, demand the impossible.”
“El revolucionario verdadero está siempre guiado por grandes sentimientos de amor.”
“The true revolutionary is always guided by great feelings of love.”
“Prefiero morir de pie, que vivir arrodillado.”
"I prefer to die standing than to live kneeling.”
We could go on for a long time with Spanish quotes, popular proverbs, sayings, and beautiful texts.
Feel free to look up other proverbs from around the world, and learn a quote a day to immerse yourself in the world of your favorite Spanish-speaking artists.
Remember that learning a new language is more than just learning the verbs and being able to hold a conversation. It also means immersing yourself in a new world and a new culture. To do this effectively, you visit the country that you want to learn more about. But don't underestimate the importance of learning beginner's Spanish before travelling!
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