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gastropatía pápuloerosiva
jefe de caracterización

Glossary entry

Spanish term or phrase:

Tropezarse no es malo, encariñarse con la piedra sí

English translation:

To err is human; to keep dwelling on it, far worse.

Added to glossary by Sergio Cortes
Sep 29, 2015 22:43
8 yrs ago
Spanish term

Tropezarse no es malo, encariñarse con la piedra sí

Spanish to English Art/Literary Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
Estoy traduciendo una página web corporativa y en la parte de 'quienes somos' está esa frase. Tentativamente tengo: "Tripping over a rock is ok, but growing fond of that rock is not" pero no se si hay alguna forma equivalente o una manera mejor de decirlo. I'm translating a corporate website and in the 'about us' section they ha ve this phrase. My attemp is: "Tripping over a rock is ok, but growing fond of that rock is not" but I'd like to know if there is a better alternative.
Proposed translations (English)
4 To err is human; to keep dwelling on it, far worse.
3 +2 tripping up isn't bad but dwelling on it is
4 It's no use crying over spilled milk
4 It's OK to stumble once, but not over and over against the same stone

Discussion

Sergio Cortes (asker) Sep 29, 2015:
The rest of that section of the page describes a brief history of the company and how they came up with the idea of the services they offer. This is just one of the 'motivational phrases' that can be seen when the pointer is dragged over the avatars of each one of the members of the company displayed in there. So actually there is no other context to help, it's just a phrase used to create a 'strong entrepreneuring sense' of the company.
philgoddard Sep 29, 2015:
What does the rest of the page say?

Proposed translations

3 hrs
Selected

To err is human; to keep dwelling on it, far worse.

I agree with the essential meaning of the other poster's option. However, this may be a little too informal for a company's website, all depending on the overall tone.

Hopefully you're familiar with the phrase that my translation alludes to (To err is human; to forgive, divine.)

Other options:
Mistakes are inevitable; dwelling on them is a choice.
Dwelling on your past mistakes is far worse than having made them in the first place.

Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Hi, everybody, thanks to all of you for your suggestions, they're all equally valid. I showed this to the customer and he finally chose Kathryn's second suggestion and told me to do a slight change to it: "Making mistakes is not a bad thing, but dwelling on them is a bad choice" He says he wants the phrase part not to be so formal. But again, thanks, you're all so good translators."
+2
9 mins

tripping up isn't bad but dwelling on it is

off the top of my head

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Note added at 14 mins (2015-09-29 22:57:54 GMT)
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stumbling on a problem/an issue is ok but it's not ok to keep on in the same vein

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Note added at 19 mins (2015-09-29 23:02:53 GMT)
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mistakes will happen but you have to go on and not get fixed on the mistake you've made
Peer comment(s):
agree Muriel Vasconcellos : I like the first one best.
1 hr
thanks Muriel and my added comments are merely explanatory
agree Carol Gullidge : or something along the lines of "dust yourself off and get on with it" or "… don't beat yourself up about it"
1 day 25 mins
thanks Carol and it has to be something like this
Something went wrong...
12 hrs

It's no use crying over spilled milk

"Said to ​emphasize that it is not ​useful ​feeling ​sorry about something that has already ​happened:
It's no use ​crying over ​spilled ​milk - he's ​spent all the ​money, and there's nothing you can do about it.
Reference:

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/it-s-no-use-crying-over-spilled-milk

Something went wrong...
14 hrs

It's OK to stumble once, but not over and over against the same stone

I think this is a bit closer, paraphrasing Cicero.
“To stumble twice against the same stone is a proverbial disgrace.”
―Cicero


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 19 hrs (2015-09-30 18:14:47 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

https://www.google.com/webhp?hl=en#hl=en&q="stumble against ...
The Institutes Of The Christian Religion (Extended ...
https://books.google.com/books?isbn=3849620816
John Calvin - 2012
But lest we should stumble against the same stone, let us distinguish accurately between what has been abrogated in the Law, and what still remains in force.

_____________________
The Multicultural Dictionary of Proverbs: Over 20,000 ...
https://books.google.com/books?isbn=0786422629
Harold V. Cordry - 2005 - ‎Literary Criticism
It is a good man that never stumbles, and a good wife that never grumbles. American 5421. It is disgraceful to stumble against the same stone twice. Greek 5422.
___________________
A Dictionary of American Proverbs - Page 770 - Google Books Result
https://books.google.com/books?isbn=0195053990
Wolfgang Mieder, ‎Stewart A. Kingsbury, ‎Kelsie B. Harder - 1992 - ‎Reference
It is disgraceful to stumble against the same stone twice. Rec. dist.: Ont. 1st cit.: 1539 Taverner , Proverbs of Erasmus. 20c. coll.: ODEP 783, Stevenson 723:8. 10.
Peer comment(s):
neutral 12316323 (X) : This could work, but it would be "on the same stone" instead of "against." Trip would also work for stumble.
3 hrs
Hi Kathryn. I undestand your point, but I copied the quote verbatim, and it appears like that inn many pages. Please see added notes
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