Colombian Proverbs
Ancient Sayings of Colombian Origin
The Republic of Colombia
- Take the bull by the horns and the man at his word. ~ Colombian Proverb
- Poverty does not destroy virtue nor does wealth bestow it. ~ Colombian Proverb
- Who is always sad, does not even have fun when drunk. ~ Colombian Proverb
- Suit the behavior to the occasion. ~ Colombian Proverb
- The old dog barks while he is sitting down. ~ Colombian Proverb
- When force is imposed, the law is a joke. ~ Colombian Proverb
- The fish dies from the head. ~ Colombian Proverb
- There is no better friend than a burden. ~ Colombian Proverb
- Instruction in youth is like engraving in stones. ~ Colombian Proverb
- Clean hands offend no one. ~ Colombian Proverb
- The person who recognizes his major mistakes is on the road to wisdom. ~ Colombian Proverb
- Where there are stones the brook babbles. ~ Colombian Proverb
- He who overcomes his passions overcomes his greatest enemies. ~ Colombian Proverb
- All fear has much imagination and little talent. ~ Colombian Proverb
- He who gives away his belongings slowly becomes a beggar. ~ Colombian Proverb
- A lame man always speaks when it's time to run. ~ Colombian Proverb
- See and believe, and in order not to make a mistake, touch. ~ Colombian Proverb
- Even the candle seller dies in the dark. ~ Colombian Proverb
- It's better to be the pot than the lid. ~ Colombian Proverb
- To love and be wise is impossible. ~ Colombian Proverb
- Better to beg forgiveness than to ask permission. ~ Colombian Proverb
The official language of Colombia
The Capital of Colombia
Bogotá is the capital and largest city of Colombia, administered as the Capital District, as well as the capital of, though not part of, the surrounding department of Cundinamarca.
Colombian National Anthem (Lyrics English Translation)
"Himno Nacional de la República de Colombia" is the National Anthem of the Republic of Colombia
Oh, unwithering glory!
Oh, immortal jubilance!
In furrows of pain,
goodness now germinates.
The dreadful night has ceased.
Sublime Liberty
beams forth the dawn
of her invincible light.
All of humanity
that groans within its chains,
understands the words
of He who died on the cross.
"Independence!" shouts
the American world;
The land of Columbus.
Is bathed in heroes' blood.
But this great doctrine;
"The king is not the sovereign",
resounds, and those who suffer
bless their passion.
The Orinoco's bed
Is heaped with plunder,
Of blood and tears
A river is seen to flow.
In Bárbula
neither souls nor eyes,
know whether admiration to feel
or fear to suffer.
On the shores of the Caribbean,
a famished people fight,
preferring horror
to fickle health.
O, aye! from Cartagena
heavy is the hardship,
and death's rubble her virtue disdains.
From Boyacá in the fields,
the genius of glory,
from every sprig a hero
was crowned undefeated.
Soldiers without armor
won the victory;
their virile spirit
served them as a shield.
Bolívar crosses the Andes
bathed by two oceans,
swords as though sparks
flash in Junín.
Indomitable centaurs
descend to the plains,
and a premonition begins to be felt,
of the epic's end.
The victorious trumpet
in Ayacucho loudly thunders,
as in every triumph grows
its formidable sound.
In its expansive thrust
Liberty is first felt,
from the American sky
forming a pavilion.
In agony, the Virgin
Tears out her hair,
and bereft of her love,
leaves it to hang on a cypress.
Regretting her hope
covered by a cold headstone,
but glorious pride
hallows her fair skin.
Thus the motherland is formed,
Thermopylaes bursting forth;
a constellation of cyclops
the night did brighten.
The trembling flower
finding the wind mortal,
underneath the laurels
safety sought.
But it's not complete glory
to defeat in battle,
the arm that fights
is encouraged by truth.
For independence alone
The great clamour doesn't silence;
if the sun shines on everyone,
justice is liberty.
Of men the rights
Nariño's preaching,
the soul of struggle
was prophetically taught.
Ricaurte in San Mateo,
in atoms flying,
"Duty before life,"
with flames he wrote.