All EOS blogs All Spain blogs  Start your own blog Start your own blog 

Only Joe King

A light-hearted look at life in Andalucía and Spain in general. Its good points and its bad. This blog doesn't pull any punches.

“Sugar, Sugar!” Sayings on your Sweetener
Tuesday, November 22, 2022 @ 7:02 AM

By Only Joe King

The packet of sugar you are served when you order a cup of coffee in a Spanish bar or cafeteria often bears a motto or quote on the back. Some are witty, some are wise and almost all are true. Joe King has been taking a look.

 

I’ve started collecting packets of sugar from bars and cafés. I don’t take sugar, so the unopened packets don’t deposit a residue of sugar grains in my pocket or handbag.

The mottos, quotes or sayings are invariably in Spanish, although their authors are from many countries.

Take this one from German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche (he of the amazing moustache):

“La ventaja de tener mala memoria es que se goza muchas veces de las mismas cosas.”

[The advantage of having a bad memory is that you can enjoy the same things over and over again.]

A great comfort for dementia sufferers, no doubt!

 

Witty

Americans Groucho Marx, WC Fields and Mark Twain were a great source of witticisms.

“Hijo mío, la felicidad está hecha de pequeñas cosas.

Un pequeño yate, una pequeña mansión, una pequeña fortuna …..” [Groucho Marx]

[My friend, happiness is brought about by small things: a small yacht, a small mansion, a small fortune.]

 

“I spent half my money on gambling, alcohol and wild women. The other half I wasted.” [WC Fields]

 

“I have overcome my will power and taken up smoking again.” [Mark Twain]

 

Wise

“La mente que se abre a una nueva idea, jamás volverá a su tamaño original.” [Anon.]

[The mind that opens up to new ideas will never go back to its original size.]

A very positive thought – perfect for die-hards and stick-in-the-muds!

 

I love this one, that sums up my post-Covid attitude to life after suffering several years of depression:

“Piensa como adulto,

vive como joven,

aconseja como anciano

Y nunca dejes de soñar como niño.”

 

[Think like an adult,

live life like a youngster,

give advice like an old person

but never stop dreaming like a child.]

 

Mother Theresa said many uplifting things.

“A veces sentimos que lo que hacemos es tan solo una gota en el mar, pero el mar seria menos si le faltara una gota.” [Mother Theresa of Calcutta]

[Sometimes we feel that what we do is nothing more than a drop in the ocean, but the ocean would be diminished if a drop were missing.]

 

Anonymous is pretty prolific also:

“Disfruta de las pequeñas cosas.” [Anon.]

Enjoy the little things.

“Nada es imposible.” [Anon.]

[Nothing is imposible.]

“Lo único imposible es aquello que no intentas” [Anon.]

[The only imposible thing is the one thing that you don’t try.]

“AMOR, Felicidad, RISAS, Sueños”

[LOVE, Happiness, LAUGHS, Dreams.]

***

Where else do we see such witty, sage and uplifting sayings?

Look out for Only Joe King’s next article “In Bars, at the Office, on Fridges and on the Web”, coming soon to Eye On Spain.

 

With acknowledgements to:

A1 Photo Archive

ARR Grupo, Ronda

Café Bar Blanco y Negro, Ronda

Café Mena, Almería

Campanini

La Catunambo

Sotocafé

 

Tags: Americans, bar, cafeteria, coffee, die-hards, English, Friedrich Nietzsche, German, Groucho Marx, Joe King, Mark Twain, Mother Theresa, office, packet, quotes, sage, sayings, Spanish, stick-in-the-muds, sugar, sweetener, true, uplifting, WC Fields, web, wise, witty



Like 1




3 Comments


Stinkey said:
Saturday, November 26, 2022 @ 11:50 AM

Shame you didn't translate them 😕, my Spanish isn't good enough yet 😁


PablodeRonda said:
Saturday, November 26, 2022 @ 4:31 PM

Hi, Stinkey
I considered translating them and didn't, but I will do it when I get a minute.


Deswilkinson said:
Sunday, November 27, 2022 @ 11:24 AM

“La ventaja de tener mala memoria es que se goza muchas veces de las mismas cosas.”:
The advantage of having a bad memory is that you enjoy the same things many times.”

“Hijo mío, la felicidad está hecha de pequeñas cosas.
Un pequeño yate, una pequeña mansión, una pequeña fortuna …..”:
“My son, happiness is made of little things.
A small yacht, a small mansion, a small fortune…..


“La mente que se abre a una nueva idea, jamás volverá a su tamaño original.” [Anon.]
"The mind that opens to a new idea will never return to its original size." [Anon.]

“Piensa como adulto,
vive como joven,
aconseja como anciano
Y nunca dejes de soñar como niño.”
“Think like an adult,
live as a young man
advise as elder
And never stop dreaming as a child.”





Only registered users can comment on this blog post. Please Sign In or Register now.




 

This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse you are agreeing to our use of cookies. More information here. x