ProverbWisdomPortuguese origin

Não há bem que sempre dure nem mal que não acabe

Meaning: Nothing lasts forever, good times or bad.

Literally: No good lasts forever, no bad never ends

Example: “Estás a passar uma fase difícil, mas não há bem que sempre dure nem mal que não acabe.” — You're going through a hard time, but nothing lasts forever, good or bad.

Equivalents in English, French, Spanish, Japanese, German, and Italian

  • English: All good things must come to an end
  • French: Toutes les bonnes choses ont une fin (literally: All good things have an end)
  • Spanish: Todo lo bueno llega a su fin (literally: All good things come to their end)
  • Japanese: 盛者必衰 (Jōsha hissui) (literally: The prosperous must decline)
  • German: Alles hat ein Ende (literally: Everything has an end)
  • Italian: Ogni bel gioco dura poco (literally: Every good game is short)

Origin: Two halves that balance each other: good times end, and so do bad ones, which makes it as much a comfort as a warning.

Explore another collection: False Friends

Words that look familiar in another language but mean something else entirely.

  • Educado Actually means 'polite' or 'well-mannered'. For educated (schooled), say instruído.
  • Balcão Actually means 'counter' — in a shop, bar or bank. A balcony is uma varanda.
  • Injúria Actually means 'insult' or 'slander'. A physical injury is uma lesão or um ferimento.

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