Your favorite Mexico-related quotes?

Your favorite Mexico-related quotes?

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I could use a break from the recent rash of uber-serious threads and thought this might offer some diversion. I'm starting out with a fun one because I'm in the mood, but anything goes.

"I got up this morning with nothing to do, and by the time I went to bed it was only half finished." - Bill Kirkwood, as quoted in the book Gringos in Paradise, by Barry Golson.

Next?

(This post was edited by tashby on Mar 19, 2010, 8:17 PM)

morgaine7

Mar 19, 2010, 7:35 PM

Post #2 of 23 (3997 views)

Re: [tashby] Your favorite Mexico-related quotes?

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"Looking at the blue stove and red refrigerator, I realize I'd envisioned the new house as white, monumental spaces: cool, clean, spare of objects. Masako sees a big, fun new playhouse to fill with lots of colorful things."

Tony Cohan, On Mexican Time

lostinmex

Mar 19, 2010, 8:19 PM

Post #3 of 23 (3980 views)

Re: [tashby] Your favorite Mexico-related quotes?

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1) Es mejor pedir perdon que pedir permiso

2) Si uno no es tranza no avanca

Our son picked up these two phrases in his Mexican school in Guadalajara. He is a bi-national and chose to leave Mexico at the first opportunity.

(This post was edited by lostinmex on Mar 19, 2010, 8:20 PM)

dmhaun

Mar 19, 2010, 8:34 PM

Post #4 of 23 (3966 views)

Re: [tashby] Your favorite Mexico-related quotes?

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"Come, join me on a culinary tour of the seven regions of Oaxaca -- grab an apron, get your ingredients, or find a good armchair, turn on some Mexican ranchero music, and adelante."
Susana Trilling, Seasons of My Heart
.
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The Michoacan Net
Supporting the Arts in Michoacan
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Michoacan_net/

richmx2

Mar 19, 2010, 11:31 PM

Post #5 of 23 (3943 views)

Re: [tashby] Your favorite Mexico-related quotes?

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It seemed to me that everyone in Mexico had mastered the art of minding his own business. If a man wanted to wear a monocle or carry a cane, he did not hesitate to do it, and no one gave him a second glance. Boys and young men walked down the street arm in arm and no one paid them any mind. It wasn't that people didn't care what others thought; it simply would not occur to a Mexican to expect criticism from a stranger, nor to criticize the behavior of others.

William S. Burroughs, from a 1 May 1950 letter to Alan Ginsburg, later included in the novel "Queer" (written in 1953, not published until 1985).

http://voiceofmexico.com

Anonimo

Mar 20, 2010, 1:24 AM

Post #6 of 23 (3938 views)

Re: [lostinmex] Your favorite Mexico-related quotes?

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Quote

2) Si uno no es tranza no avanca

I can't seem to find translations for "tranza" nor "avanca". What does it mean?
All generalities are suspect, including this one.

Saludos,
Anonimo

Mar 20, 2010, 6:01 AM

Post #7 of 23 (3917 views)

Re: [Anonimo] Your favorite Mexico-related quotes?

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In Reply To

Quote

2) Si uno no es tranza no avanca

I can't seem to find translations for "tranza" nor "avanca". What does it mean?

Nearest I could think of using forms of "transar" and "avanzar" would be roughly, "One does not get ahead without compromise." Would that be correct?

Mar 20, 2010, 6:01 AM

Post #8 of 23 (3919 views)

Re: [Anonimo] Your favorite Mexico-related quotes?

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In Reply To

Quote

2) Si uno no es tranza no avanca

I can't seem to find translations for "tranza" nor "avanca". What does it mean?

The proper spelling is "avanza" from the verb avanzar.

Tranza means crooked or corrupt. It means you can't get ahead unless you're crooked.

Pero no es una "cita" sino un dicho.

Mar 20, 2010, 6:16 AM

Post #9 of 23 (3917 views)

Re: [Manuel Dexterity] Your favorite Mexico-related quotes?

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In Reply To

Quote

2) Si uno no es tranza no avanca

I can't seem to find translations for "tranza" nor "avanca". What does it mean?

The proper spelling is "avanza" from the verb avanzar.

Tranza means crooked or corrupt. It means you can't get ahead unless you're crooked.

Pero no es una "cita" sino un dicho.

Well, that's another way to deal with it than what I came up with. And it does seem to be the preferred route for some.

Mar 20, 2010, 6:18 AM

Post #10 of 23 (3913 views)

Re: [Peter] Your favorite Mexico-related quotes?

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It isn't "another way". It is an old saying and means what I stated.

Mar 20, 2010, 8:23 AM

Post #11 of 23 (3873 views)

Re: [Manuel Dexterity] Your favorite Mexico-related quotes?

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In Reply To

It isn't "another way". It is an old saying and means what I stated.

I'm sorry, I didn't recognize the saying. My interpretation was in error, then. Whatever's right. I thought it made grammatical sense if it was the verb infinitive "transar", to give way or compromise, but then is another form, "danzar" which literally means compromised or crooked, correct? Thanks, I hadn't heard that term.

(This post was edited by Peter on Mar 20, 2010, 10:07 AM)

Demonio

Mar 20, 2010, 2:38 PM

Post #12 of 23 (3801 views)

Re: [Peter] Your favorite Mexico-related quotes?

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I second Manuel's interpretation. He is correct, however, I've always known tranza to mean fraud. As in "El hombre cometió una tranza - The man committed a fraud". Either way fraud, crooked or corrupt - you get the idea.

"What we've got here is a failure to communicate."

mevale

Mar 20, 2010, 8:03 PM

Post #13 of 23 (3753 views)

Re: [Peter] Your favorite Mexico-related quotes?

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In Reply To

It isn't "another way". It is an old saying and means what I stated.

"Danzar" is to dance. I've also heard it to mean "fidget". I've never heard it used in the sense you're referring to.

cookj5

Mar 20, 2010, 10:32 PM

Post #14 of 23 (3724 views)

Re: [tashby] Your favorite Mexico-related quotes?

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"Poor Mexico, so far from God, so close to the United States." Porfirio Diaz, President of Mexico until the 1910 Revolution

esperanza

Mar 20, 2010, 10:56 PM

Post #15 of 23 (3717 views)

Re: [tashby] Your favorite Mexico-related quotes?

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Right now, this quote comes to mind:

El respeto al derecho del ajeno es la paz...Benito Juárez...respect for the rights of others is peace.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

Mar 20, 2010, 11:38 PM

Post #16 of 23 (3713 views)

Re: [mevale] Your favorite Mexico-related quotes?

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"Danzar" is to dance. I've also heard it to mean "fidget". I've never heard it used in the sense you're referring to.
_____

Ýou're absolutely right. Not sure where that came from except that I got side-tracked when replying at that time and being rushed out the door. I meant "tranza" when I wrote that, meaning "compromised" or "corrupt", as being a term I hadn't heard before. Now, at this time I have discussed this all day with several local friends and it is much more common than I was aware of.

arbon

Mar 21, 2010, 7:41 AM

Post #17 of 23 (3680 views)

Re: [Peter] Your favorite Mexico-related quotes?

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"Now, at this time I have discussed this all day with several local friends and it is much more common than I was aware of."

There you go, "La honestidad es la mejor política"

Mar 21, 2010, 10:56 AM

Post #18 of 23 (3648 views)

Re: [tashby] Your favorite Mexico-related quotes?

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"If night falls on you in Chamula, you can go to sleep....but you won't see the dawn."

Scottm

Mar 21, 2010, 3:28 PM

Post #19 of 23 (3611 views)

Re: [morgaine7] Your favorite Mexico-related quotes?

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"Once the dust of Mexico settles on your soul, your hers forever".....Sorry, I love this one, but don't know
who gets the credit...

tashby

Mar 21, 2010, 5:10 PM

Post #20 of 23 (3598 views)

Re: [Scottm] Your favorite Mexico-related quotes?

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I'm pretty sure it was....

"He upon whose heart the dust of Mexico has lain will find no peace in any other land." - Malcom Lowry, Under the Volcano

Mar 21, 2010, 5:29 PM

Post #21 of 23 (3583 views)

Re: [tashby] Your favorite Mexico-related quotes?

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"Ahi está el detalle" . . . . Cantinflas

Jane.Wilkinson

Mar 21, 2010, 8:00 PM

Post #22 of 23 (3552 views)

Re: [tashby] Your favorite Mexico-related quotes?

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The following is not exactly a Mexican saying, but it is delightfully and quintessentially Mexican and I still laugh about this with my friends. When we were in Chiapas and asked about the availability of something (in a restaurant, I think, or possibly a shop), the response was, "Si hay, pero no hay." In other words, "we're all out."

Jane

ken_in_dfw

Mar 21, 2010, 10:11 PM

Post #23 of 23 (3530 views)