114 Inspiring European & Nordic Mottos to Live By – A Collection of Cool & Stylish Quotes

Ordnung ist das halbe Leben (German)
Pronunciation: Or-doong ist das hal-be lay-ben
Meaning: Order is half of life
In der Ruhe liegt die Kraft (German)
Pronunciation: In der roo-heh leekt dee kraft
Meaning: Strength lies in tranquility
Wer nicht wagt, der nicht gewinnt (German)
Pronunciation: Ver nikht vagt, der nikht gevint
Meaning: Nothing ventured, nothing gained
Aller Anfang ist schwer (German)
Pronunciation: Ah-ler an-fang ist shvair
Meaning: Every beginning is difficult
Träume nicht dein Leben, lebe deinen Traum (German)
Pronunciation: Troy-me nikht dain lay-ben, lay-be dain-en trowm
Meaning: Don’t just dream your life—live your dream
Ohne Fleiß kein Preis (German)
Pronunciation: Oh-neh flyce kine prys
Meaning: No pain, no gain
Wer will, findet Wege (German)
Pronunciation: Ver vil, fin-det vay-geh
Meaning: Where there’s a will, there’s a way
Geduld ist eine Tugend (German)
Pronunciation: Geh-doolt ist eye-neh too-goont
Meaning: Patience is a virtue
Der Weg ist das Ziel (German)
Pronunciation: Der vayg ist das tzeel
Meaning: The journey is the destination
Man lernt nie aus (German)
Pronunciation: Man lernt nee ous
Meaning: One never stops learning
Deus ajuda quem cedo madruga (Portuguese)
Pronunciation: Day-oos ah-zhoo-dah kem seh-do mah-droo-gah
Meaning: God helps those who rise early
Quem não arrisca, não petisca (Portuguese)
Pronunciation: Kem now ah-rees-kah, now peh-chees-kah
Meaning: Nothing ventured, nothing gained
Água mole em pedra dura, tanto bate até que fura (Portuguese)
Pronunciation: Ah-goo-ah moh-lee en peh-drah doo-rah, tan-toh bah-teh ah-teh keh foo-rah
Meaning: Soft water wears away hard stone
Sorte é para os ousados (Portuguese)
Pronunciation: Sor-teh eh pah-rah oos ow-zah-dos
Meaning: Fortune favors the daring
A esperança é a última que morre (Portuguese)
Pronunciation: Ah es-peh-rahn-sah eh ah ool-chee-ma keh mor-reh
Meaning: Hope is the last to die
Cada dia é uma nova oportunidade (Portuguese)
Pronunciation: Kah-dah dee-ah eh oo-ma nwoh-vah oh-por-too-nee-dah-deh
Meaning: Every day is a new chance
Viver é lutar (Portuguese)
Pronunciation: Vee-vehr eh loo-tar
Meaning: To live is to fight
O saber não ocupa espaço (Portuguese)
Pronunciation: Oo sah-behr now oh-koo-pah es-pah-so
Meaning: Knowledge doesn’t take up space
Faça o bem sem olhar a quem (Portuguese)
Pronunciation: Fah-sah oo beng sen oh-lar a kayn
Meaning: Do good without expecting anything in return
Quem espera, sempre alcança (Portuguese)
Pronunciation: Kem es-peh-rah, sem-preh al-cahn-sah
Meaning: Patience brings its rewards
De aanhouder wint (Dutch)
Pronunciation: Deh aan-how-der vint
Meaning: The persistent succeed
Wie niet waagt, wie niet wint (Dutch)
Pronunciation: Vee neet vagt, vee neet vint
Meaning: Nothing ventured, nothing gained
Oost west, thuis best (Dutch)
Pronunciation: Oost vest, touse best
Meaning: Home is best, no matter where you are
Beter één vogel in de hand, dan tien in de lucht (Dutch)
Pronunciation: Bay-ter ayn voh-gel in de hahnd, dan teen in de looft
Meaning: A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
Wie zijn eigen weg gaat, ontdekt zijn bestemming (Dutch)
Pronunciation: Vee zine ay-gun vayg ghaat, ont-dekt zine besh-tin-ming
Meaning: Those who follow their own path find their destination
Niets is onmogelijk (Dutch)
Pronunciation: Neets is on-moy-ghuh-lik
Meaning: Nothing is impossible
Met de stroom mee (Dutch)
Pronunciation: Met de stroom may
Meaning: Go with the flow
Elk nadeel heeft zijn voordeel (Dutch)
Pronunciation: Elk nah-dayl hayft zine for-dayl
Meaning: Every disadvantage has its advantage
La paciencia es la madre de la ciencia (Spanish)
Pronunciation: Lah pah-see-EN-see-ah es lah mah-dray de lah syen-see-ah
Meaning: Patience is the mother of knowledge
El hábito no hace al monje (Spanish)
Pronunciation: El AH-bee-toh no ah-seh al mon-heh
Meaning: Clothes do not make the man
Il n’y a que le bonheur qui se double quand on le partage (French)
Pronunciation: Il nee a kuh luh boh-nur kee suh doo-bluh kawn on luh par-tahj
Meaning: Happiness doubles when shared
La vie est un défi, relève-le! (French)
Pronunciation: Lah vee eh tan day-fee, ruh-lehv luh!
Meaning: Life is a challenge—rise to it!
Chi semina vento raccoglie tempesta (Italian)
Pronunciation: Key seh-mee-nah ven-toh rahk-kohl-yeh tem-pes-tah
Meaning: You reap what you sow
La fortuna aiuta gli audaci (Italian)
Pronunciation: Lah for-too-nah ah-yoo-tah glee ow-dah-chee
Meaning: Fortune favors the brave
Wer kämpft, kann verlieren; wer nicht kämpft, hat schon verloren (German)
Pronunciation: Ver kempt, kan feh-ree-ren; ver nikht kempt, haht shone feh-roh-ren
Meaning: Those who fight may lose, but those who never fight have already lost
Fortes fortuna adiuvat (Latin)
Pronunciation: For-tes for-too-na ah-dee-oo-vaht
Meaning: Fortune favors the brave
Nil desperandum (Latin)
Pronunciation: Neel des-peh-ran-dum
Meaning: Never despair
Labor omnia vincit (Latin)
Pronunciation: Lah-bor om-nee-ah vin-kit
Meaning: Hard work conquers all
Sic parvis magna (Latin)
Pronunciation: Sik par-vis mag-na
Meaning: Greatness comes from small beginnings
Fortitudo et spes (Latin)
Pronunciation: For-tee-too-do et spays
Meaning: Courage and hope