If you pay your debts on time, people will be more likely to lend money to you in the future
El que paga se acredita
El que paga lo que debe, sabe lo que tiene
A person without doubts is better off, because he/she knows what belongs to him/her
El que no tiene vaca, no bebe leche
If you don’t have a job, you aren’t going to eat
El que no tiene hechas no tiene sospechas
To not have anything to hide. If you are hiding something, then generally you are guilty. If you weren’t guilty, you wouldn’t need to hide anything.
El que no sale de casa, no sabe lo que pasa
It is impossible to understand and know what is happening in the world without getting outside of your house to experience it.
El que no llora no mama
If you do not speak for yourself, no one else will
El que no la hace a la entrada, la hace en la salida
Negative observation which highlights that if a person does not change their behavior at the beginning or during a process or relationship, he/she will be forced to change when the relationship is ended (examples are a marriage, employer/employee, friends).
El que no habla, Dios no lo oye
Speak up for yourself, no one else will
El que no coge consejos, no llega a viejo
Anyone that ignores the advice of others, which helps avoid problems and bad situations, does not arrive to old age.
El que no aprende es porque no quiere
Highlights that one of the most important factors in learning is a positive attitude
El que necesita busca
Any person that has a real need for something will find the way to obtain it
El que nace para toro del cielo le caen los cuernos
Always lands on his feet. A lucky person that always seems to have things turn out right.
El que nace para chavito prieto nunca llega a vellón
To reach one’s limit. No matter what a person does, he/she will not advance any further.
El que nace para bombero, del cielo le cae el sombrero
Always lands on his feet. A lucky person that always seems to have things turn out right.
El que mucho promete, poco cumple
Fine words butter no parsnips. Look out for the person that promises everything to everyone. This person will not have the time or resources to fulfill all of his promises, so will end up fulfilling none of them.
El que mucho abarca, poco aprieta
Try to do everything and you end up doing nothing
El que la hace la paga
The person that does something bad (stealing, lying, etc.) must assume the consequences
El que juega por necesidad pierde por obligación
Don’t gamble something you can’t afford to lose
El que juega con fuego se quema
If you play with fire you get burned. A person that messes around with a “sticky” or dangerous situation is running the risk of hurting himself or getting into trouble.
El que hace la ley hace la trampa
Implies that whoever is in charge, making the laws or rules, also puts in the loopholes so that he himself can be exempt from the rules. This person will always come out ahead.
El que guarda siempre encuentra
The person that saves whenever he/she has extra, will always find what is needed during times of scarcity
El que espera desespera
This phrase is used for impatient people, that cannot sit quietly and wait for whatever is pending (a line at the store, a doctor’s appointment, kids waiting to open their gifts for Christmas).
El que duerme con niños amanece mojado
If you are associated with something, even if you are not involved, you will suffer from the situation. For example, if your friends are criminals, even if you aren’t, at some point you will be implicated with them.
El que da primero da dos veces
He gives twice who gives quickly. The first person to act in a situation is often at an advantage. This may be a fight, where the first blow is the best, or donating money to charity. By giving right away, that is worth more than giving at a later time.
El que da lo que tiene a pedir se atiene
To give away the house. If you are too generous with things, then you will end up with nothing and will have to beg from others.
El que come gofio se ahoga
Someone that screws off or takes advantage of people, for example cutting class; gofio is a powdery candy that because it is so dry and fine, can easily make you choke.
El que canta sus penas espanta
Singing is a way of removing problems or worries from one’s mind
El que calla otorga
Silence gives consent. By not speaking out against what is in question, the person is by default accepting or authorizing what he/she is against.
El que busca encuentra
By taking the initiative, a person can achieve what he wants. No one else can do that for him.