One of the best ways to practice a language is to read it. Reading is even betteridiomatic phraseswhich are not always directly translated into English.This helps you learn more than just vocabulary—it teaches you to decode itMeaningalso behind the words.It is definitely a skill that you will definitely need to improve yoursAP Spanish Language Examor yoursAP Spanish LiteratureTest! Today we are sharing with you 9 of the best inspirational Spanish quotes about life.Reading these will help you practice your advanced reading and comprehension skills... and it might just give you food for thought.For each offer we give you: Ready? Alright, let's get started! You will never be able to cross the ocean until you lose sight of the shore. Translated into English it means: “You can never cross the ocean until you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.” This quote is a great way to start learning some Spanish quotes about life... especially since you need to have some courage while learning. (It's not easy, after all.) The quote above also makes the process easier for you as you can translate it literally, which means that when you translate the sentence, it means exactly what it says! We love this quote because it's a good reminder that sometimes you have to take risks in order to achieve your dreams. While it's tempting to stick with what you've always known, success often means sailing over the horizon! Just like English, there are plenty of great Spanish quotes about life - and money - that could have made our list. But our favorite is this one: Fools don't keep money. The literal translation of this line is "Money isn't enough for fools."It's the Spanish equivalent of the English proverb, "A fool and his money will soon be parted." (Your parents may have told you that once or twice. Not that we're speaking from experience or anything.) The truth of life is that money matters. Definitely this Spanish quotereminds us that making money is only half the battle: it's also important to be smart about our financial decisions.Spanish Quote 1: A quote about courage
Spanish Quote 2: A quote about money
Spanish Quote 3: A quote about your choice of words
The tongue is boneless but cuts through the thickest.
This is an example of a Spanish quote where there is a big difference between the literal translation and its meaning.Literally translated, this phrase means "The tongue has no bone, but it cuts through the thickest."What does that even mean?!
But if you think about it, evenidiomsin English doesn't make much sense. Finally, if you are unfamiliar with English, you would be really confused if someone told you that you "the pot that calls the cauldron black"or you shouldn't"Throwing stones at glass houses.“
So in the case of this Spanish quote about life,we need to look beyond the literal phrase to the meaning behind it.
Let's break it down, starting with the first part of the sentence.When you say "The tongue has no bone," it means the tongue isn't as strong as your arm or leg. You can't physically hurt anyone with your tongue! And yet the second half of the sentence says it's somehow still capable of cutting through "the thickest thing." In other words, our tongue...what Merriam-Webster explains can also mean “language”.--Has the power to cause significant harm to other people.
In other words, this quote is the equivalent of the English saying, "The pen is mightier than the sword."
Spanish Quote 4: A quote about willpower
There is no great talent without great will.
When studying, you need a lot of willpower to stay focused. That's why we love this inspirational quote - in Spanish or English!Translated, this quote means "There is no great talent without great will".
Sometimes we think people are just born with talent, and if we're not, we can't achieve our dreams. But this Spanish quote teaches us that's not true. Willpower and the drive and focus that comes with it can help usdevelopour talents.
Malcolm Gladwell, a Canadian journalist and author, found that it takes some people 10,000 hours of practice to master a skill. That corresponds to 417 practice days! Even the most talented person would need a lot of willpower to handle this amount of work. consequently,This quote explains that great things in life take as much hard work as talent.
Spanish Quote 5: A quote about trying
Many idioms rhyme so that it sticks in our memories. (Two good English examples are "fake it 'til you make it" and "you snooze, you lose".)Science has shown that rhymes help our brain remember information.
Given that, it makes sense that inspirational quotes in Spanish and English use rhyme to convey their messages so that we remember them. Here is one of our favorite rhyming inspirational quotes:
After a thousand years, the water returns to its course.
Here "mil" is pronounced longeSound. That means it sounds more like “meel” in Spanish. The same goes for "carril" which would be pronounced "carreel". As you can see, the two clauses of the sentences rhyme perfectly so that people can remember them better.
The literal translation of this quote is: "After a thousand years, the water returns to its course."But more precisely translated, this quote means: "In a hundred years we'll be dead anyway."That's pretty morbid!
But what this quote really means is that people's memories are short, so you shouldn't worry about what people think.Don't let other people's judgments or fear of embarrassment stop you from pursuing your passions!
Spanish Quote 6: A quote about patience
Patience is a tricky thing for many people.That's why one of our favorite Spanish quotes has to do with the value of patience.Here it is:
Everything is achieved with time.
Literally translated, this quote means: "With time everything is acquired."But more specifically, this quote tells us that patience is the key to getting what you want in life.
Patience comes in many forms. For example, when you're learning Spanish vocabulary for your AP or IB exam, it can be tempting to get impatient and quickly go through your flashcards. But that means you might not have memorized the definitions, which can make a world of difference when trying to pass the test.
Patience, however, will help you study more thoroughly. This can help you get top test scores that will land you in your dream school, which is a big step towards realizing your dreams.In other words: Patience pays off in the end!
Spanish Quote 7: A quote about perseverance
This quote is a little different. If you are lookingFrida KahloQuotations, Spanish versions are definitely the most accurate and authentic!Our favorite inspirational quote from Frida Kahlo is this:
"What doesn't kill me feeds me."
In English it means "What doesn't kill me feeds me".This is a nod to Nietzche's famous saying, "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger." Frida Kahlo - one of the most famous Mexican artists of all time - would definitely know a lot about surviving tragedy.
Despite her talent, Kahlo's life was difficult: she was disabled by polio and later by a terrible traffic accident that also left her infertile. As a result, she also struggled with depression. But she channeled that into her art,what she said "completed her life".
That is why this is one of the best inspirational quotes in Spanish.It shows us how to turn our suffering into something good, which is one of the most important life lessons we can learn.
Spanish Quote 8: A quote about perseverance
No rush, but no break.
Literally translated, this quote means “without haste, but without stopping”.In English we could translate this into another commonAphorismus: "slow and steady wins the race."
This quote goes very well with Spanish quote 6 which is about patience. In this case, we are reminded that moving forward, even if it's slow, is the key to progress.
In fact, slow progress can often lead to success!Consider the story of Angus Macfadyen.In 2007 he had an accident that left his leg in a cast. But that didn't stop him from running the London Marathon on crutches! It took him 7 hours and 13 minutes to reach the finish line...but he still finished the race.
The best quotes about life help us better understand the hurdles on our way. In this case,Overcoming obstacles can take time, but we can still succeed if we persevere.
Spanish quote 9:A quote about love
Our final Spanish quote about life deals with one of the best parts of life. Finally,Spanish is a Romance language...so it's not surprising that some of his best quotes are about love!
He who loves well forgets later.
This is another quote where the literal translation is a bit confusing. Word for word, this quote means: "He who loves well forgets the afternoon."But the idiomatic translation is actually: "True love never gets old.”
This quote makes us think of one of our favorite teary-eyed scenes of any movie: the first few minutes of Pixar'sHoch.
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In this scene, viewers watch a couple in love - Carl and Ellie - as they celebrate the ups and downs of life. Unfortunately, Ellie dies before she can fulfill her lifelong dream of visiting Paradise Falls. But Carl isn't letting her dream die, and he's keeping his promise to Ellie by buying her scrapbook—and her house! - takes you to Paradise Falls in one last great adventure.
Carl may be old, but his love for Ellie never wanes...which might be the best life lesson of all. (Who is chopping onions here?!)
What's next?
Interested in learning more Spanish phrases and quotes? Then you will love our article on the 11 Most Romantic Spanish Love Quotes.
If you're learning Spanish, you know that conjugating verbs is half the battle. However, irregular verbs can be tricky because they don't follow the rules. It's all about memorization for these!That's why we've put together complete conjugation tables for the most common irregular verbs in Spanish.Why not start your studies with our conjugation list for ser?
And while you're at itYou should also take a look at our vocabulary lists.It's all about the body parts hereyou need to know before taking an IB or AP Spanish exam.
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Ashley Robinson
About the author
Ashley Sufflé Robinson holds a Ph.D. in 19th Century English Literature. As a content writer for PrepScholar, Ashley is passionate about giving college students the detailed information they need to get into the school of their dreams.
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