ProverbHuman NatureItalian origin

Gallina vecchia fa buon brodo

Meaning: Older people have qualities, like experience, that the young lack.

Literally: An old hen makes good broth

Example: “Il nonno ha sistemato la caldaia in dieci minuti: gallina vecchia fa buon brodo.” — Grandpa fixed the boiler in ten minutes: there's many a good tune played on an old fiddle.

Equivalents in English, French, Spanish, Japanese, and Russian

  • English: There's many a good tune played on an old fiddle
  • French: C'est dans les vieux pots qu'on fait la meilleure soupe (literally: It's in old pots that the best soup is made)
  • Spanish: Gallina vieja hace buen caldo (literally: An old hen makes good broth)
  • Japanese: 腐っても鯛 (Kusatte mo tai) (literally: Even rotten, it's still a sea bream)
  • Russian: Старый конь борозды не испортит (Staryy kon' borozdy ne isportit) (literally: An old horse won't spoil the furrow)

Origin: Cooks know that an old hen, too tough to roast, makes the richest broth.

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