Context: The informant was four years old at a preschool birthday party when she first heard this phrase, said to her by a friend’s mother after she asked for a different popsicle flavor.
Analysis: This rhyming phrase is typically said to children in response to expressions of dissatisfaction (I’ve heard it many times as well). It seems to encourage a philosophy of being grateful for what one has, and not to trouble others with your own disappointment.
Context: The informant heard this saying primarily from her mom as a child; similar to “different strokes for different folks,” this phrase is meant to say that there are different people or things suited for different situations. More specifically, as the informant adds, “not all horses are racehorses.”
Analysis: I was confused when I first heard this, but in context it makes sense – racehorses are meant for racecourses, while others are not. It’s an interestingly horse-specific way of acknowledging individual differences.
“Better than a stick in the eye”
This is a proverb that the informants mother used to repeat to describe something that happened that is only marginally good, usually to put life in perspective. That circumstances aren’t ideal, but that they could be worse. It’s similar to the phrase “better than nothing”. Her mother grew up near St. Louis, Georgia, and rural Illinois in the 40s-50s.
“Better than a stick in the eye” is a reflection of resilience, perspective, and a pragmatic approach to life’s challenges valued by the community from which it came. It highlights values of endurance, gratitude, and humor as essential tools for navigating life’s ups and downs, deeply rooted in the personal, cultural, and historical context of the time and place from which it originates. Considering the historical context of the 1940s-50s in areas near St. Louis, Georgia, and rural Illinois, this proverb reflects the economic and social challenges of the time. Post-World War II America was a period of significant adjustment, with rural communities often facing economic hardships and societal shifts. It could also predate this time and originate further back to times like the great depression with even worse economic devastation. The saying may sum up the ethos of a generation accustomed to hard work, modest living, and finding contentment in stability rather than excess.
El que tiempo agarra, tiempo le sobra – (The one who makes time, has time to spare)
My mom would tell me this every time I was late for school or was in a hurry. It’s much like the Spanish version of “the early bird gets the worm”. My mom said her parents would tell her siblings the same thing and eventually my mom picked up on it to tell her own tardy children.
I myself would find it tedious because my mom was right. I’d be rushing and hurrying out the door going to school in the morning and she’d often bid me goodbye by saying this old proverb. And now still, when I’m running late, I hear it in my mind in her voice. My parents are big on timeliness and tend to sometimes go overboard on being so. As such this expression serves as a kind of thing to live by, which admittedly, is true.
“Dios Por Delante, Todo Sale Bien” (God in control, all will be well).
My mom told me that my great-grandmother would often say this phrase. It is obviously based deeply within religion and proverbs like these were ones often told and frequently said. They were said in a hopeful context centered in the belief of a higher power. And with said belief and manifestation of faith, good fortune would also be summoned.
I’ve heard very similar proverbs be said be my grandma, my mom, and other relatives indicating that same sense of hope according to their faith, something that’s very big amongst Latinamerican cultures. These are said very often and in many scenarios. For example, one would say “I hope I get the job” and then someone would say one of these proverbs indicating luck and good things.