ProverbWisdom
Italian origin
Italian originNon tutti i mali vengono per nuocere
Meaning: Something good can come out of a misfortune.
Literally: Not every misfortune comes to do harm
Example: “Ho perso il volo, ma ho scoperto una città bellissima. Non tutti i mali vengono per nuocere.” — I missed my flight but discovered a beautiful city: every cloud has a silver lining.
Equivalents in English, French, Spanish, Japanese, German, and 7 more languages
English: Every cloud has a silver lining
French: Après la pluie, le beau temps (literally: After rain, good weather)
Spanish: No hay mal que por bien no venga (literally: There is no evil that doesn't come for good)
Japanese: 雨降って地固まる (Ame futte ji katamaru) (literally: After rain, the ground hardens)
German: Kein Unglück ist so groß, es trägt ein Glück im Schoß (literally: No misfortune is so great that it doesn't carry some luck in its lap)
Portuguese: Há males que vêm por bem (literally: Some misfortunes come for the good)
Dutch: Na regen komt zonneschijn (literally: After rain comes sunshine)
Russian: Нет худа без добра (Net khuda bez dobra) (literally: There's no bad without good)
Polish: Nie ma tego złego, co by na dobre nie wyszło (literally: There's no bad that doesn't turn out for the good)
Chinese: 塞翁失马，焉知非福 (Sài wēng shī mǎ, yān zhī fēi fú) (literally: The old man lost his horse, but who knows it wasn't luck?)
Arabic: رب ضارة نافعة (Rubba ḍārratin nāfiʿa) (literally: Perhaps a harm is a benefit)
Turkish: Her işte bir hayır vardır (literally: There is some good in everything)
Origin: Misfortunes are pictured as arriving with an intention, and not all of them mean harm.
Explore another collection: Untranslatable Words
Words that capture a feeling or idea English needs a whole sentence for.
- Menefreghista Someone who has made not caring into an entire stance — indifference as a way of life.
- Apericena The evening drink whose accompanying buffet is generous enough to replace dinner altogeth…
- Abbiocco The heavy, irresistible drowsiness that comes after a large meal — the post-lunch stupor…
Keep exploring