Below are short Spanish quotes with English translations, sorted by use: lines for motivation, lines about love and life, and a few proverbs. Each is given in Spanish first, then a plain English translation, with the author named where one exists. Where a line is commonly misattributed, that is flagged.
Short motivational Spanish quotes
Short enough for a caption, a bio, or a slide.
“El que no arriesga, no gana.” — He who doesn’t take risks doesn’t win. A common proverb.
“Querer es poder.” — To want is to be able. The Spanish equivalent of “where there’s a will, there’s a way.”
“No dejes para mañana lo que puedas hacer hoy.” — Don’t leave for tomorrow what you can do today. A proverb.
“Poco a poco se anda lejos.” — Little by little, one goes far. A proverb about steady progress.
Spanish quotes about life
Lines with a named source, for something with a bit more weight.
“Caminante, no hay camino, se hace camino al andar.” — Traveler, there is no path; the path is made by walking. Antonio Machado, from “Proverbios y cantares.”
“La vida es sueño.” — Life is a dream. Pedro Calderón de la Barca, the title and theme of his play.
“Hoy es siempre todavía.” — Today is always still. Antonio Machado, meaning the present always holds possibility.
Spanish quotes about love
For a card or a caption.
“Puedo escribir los versos más tristes esta noche.” — Tonight I can write the saddest lines. Pablo Neruda, from “Veinte poemas de amor.”
“Te quiero no por lo que eres, sino por lo que soy cuando estoy contigo.” — I love you not for what you are, but for what I am when I’m with you. Often attributed to Gabriel García Márquez, but he did not write it; treat it as anonymous.
Spanish proverbs
Traditional sayings, useful as anonymous lines.
“Más vale tarde que nunca.” — Better late than never.
“No hay mal que por bien no venga.” — There is no bad from which some good doesn’t come. The Spanish version of “every cloud has a silver lining.”
“A quien madruga, Dios le ayuda.” — God helps those who rise early. The rough equivalent of “the early bird gets the worm.”
How to use Spanish quotes correctly
Keep the accents. Spanish relies on them, and “está” versus “esta” or “sí” versus “si” can change the meaning, so copy the marks, not just the letters. Name the author when there is one, and label the proverbs as proverbs rather than pinning them on a writer. The García Márquez line above is the most common misattribution in this category; it is not his. For sourcing a translated quote in an essay, see how to cite a quote and how to quote someone in an essay. For more classroom-ready lines, quote of the day for students is sorted the same way.
FAQ
What is a good short Spanish quote?
“Querer es poder” (to want is to be able) is short, positive, and widely understood. It parallels the English “where there’s a will, there’s a way.”
Did García Márquez write “te quiero no por lo que eres”?
No. That line is frequently attributed to him but is not from his work. Treat it as anonymous.
What does “caminante, no hay camino” mean?
“Traveler, there is no path; the path is made by walking.” It is from Antonio Machado and means you make your way by living it, not by following a set route.
Do I need the accent marks?
Yes. Accents change meaning and pronunciation in Spanish, so keep them when you copy a quote rather than using the unaccented letters.
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