un lavoro fatto bene

Un lavoro fatto bene è un lavoro fatto bene la prima volta.

A job well done is a job well done the first time.

impara l'arte

Impara l'arte e mettila da parte.

Learn a trade and you got it made.

il buon giorno

Il buon giorno si vede dal mattino.

"You can tell what the day is going to be like from the morning." In other words, the key to a good finish is a good start.

la bugia

La bugia ha le gambe corte.

"Lies have short legs." The implication being they don't get very far before they're uncovered. (Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.)

tra moglie e marito

Tra moglie e marito non mettere il dito.

"Don't meddle in the lives of husbands and wives." (Literally don't put a finger between them.) In-laws take heed!

speranza

Finché c'è vita, c'è speranza.

"As long as there's life, there's hope." It's not over till it's over. Only death is incurable. That type of thing!

la pentola

I guai della pentola li conosce il mestolo.

Only the ladle knows the troubles of the pot. (Appearances can be deceiving. Things often look better from the outside than they really are.)

chi dorme

Chi dorme non piglia pesci.

This is an easy one to find an English equivalent for: The early bird catches the worm. (Literally, "Those who sleep don't get the fishes.")

So when you're in Italy, and you want to get an early start on a day of sightseeing, and your travel mates are sleeping in, tell them, "Chi dorme non piglia pesci." Ciao for now!

chi si contenta

Chi si contenta gode.

Those who content themselves with things, enjoy them.

The idea is to take things as they come and make the best of them. It's not things themselves that make you happy, but your attitude towards them. At least that's my interpretation!

questa minestra

O ti mangi questa minestra o ti getti dalla finestra!

Either you eat this soup or you throw yourself out the window! In other words, "Take it or leave it!"

chi fa da sé

Chi fa da sé, fa per tre.

[Your own efforts are worth three times the efforts of others. "If you want something done right, do it yourself."]

se son rose

Se son rose, fioriranno.

[If they are roses, they will bloom. Or, "Time will tell."]

il buon giorno

Il buon giorno si vede dal mattino.

[To finish right, start right.]

l'amore

L'amore non e' bello

se non e' litigarello.

[For love to feel all right

lovers have to fight.]

(Thanks to Salvatore for this one.)

lavorare e mangiare

C'e' chi mangia senza lavorare e chi lavora senza mangiare.

[There are those who eat without working and those who work without eating.]

tutto il mondo

Tutto il mondo e' paese.

[Nothing changes wherever you go.]

altezza

Altezza mezza bellezza.

[The better part of beauty is height.]

natale

Natale con i tuoi, Pasqua con chi vuoi.

[Christmas with the family, Easter where you want.]

chi troppo vuole

Chi troppo vuole nulla stringe.

[Those who want too much get nothing.]

il bello

Non è bello ciò che è bello ma è bello ciò che piace.

[What's beautiful isn't what's beautiful but what you like.]