Proverbs of Latin America:

• Of the doctor, the poet, and the fool we all have a small portion. (Mexico)
• Each of us bears his friend and his enemy within himself. (Costa Rica)
• The mother-in-law does not remember she was a daughter-in-law. (Venezuela)
• Halfway is 12 miles when you have 14 miles to go. (Panama)
• Diligence is the mother of good fortune. (Peru)
• Face to face respect appears. (Ecuador)
• You may believe every good report of a grateful man. (Guatemala)
• Many go for wool and come back shorn themselves. (Dominican Republic)
• He who marries prudence is the brother-in-law of peace. (Bolivia)
• Nothing is so burdensome as a secret. (Colombia)
• The vulgar keep no account of your hits, but of your misses. (Paraguay)
• Grief shared is half grief; joy shared is double joy. (Honduras)
• A “no” in time is better than a late “yes.” (Uruguay)
• When you mourn, you cannot sing; when you sing, you cannot mourn. (Argentina)

(From Guy Zona, Eyes That See Do Not Grow Old, 1996.)