"Dime de qué presumes y te diré de qué careces."
/DEE-meh deh keh preh-SOO-mehs ee teh dee-REH deh keh kah-REH-sehs/
Tell me what you brag about, and I'll tell you what you lack.
💡 Understanding the Quote
"Dime de qué presumes y te diré de qué careces."
🎨 Visual Representation
The proverb suggests that our boasts are like masks hiding what we truly lack.
🔑 Key Words
📖 Context
A traditional Spanish proverb (refrán) with anonymous origins, passed down through generations as a piece of folk wisdom.
📝 In Action
Mi vecino no para de hablar de su coche nuevo. Ya sabes lo que dicen: 'dime de qué presumes y te diré de qué careces'.
B2My neighbor won't stop talking about his new car. You know what they say: 'tell me what you brag about, and I'll tell you what you lack'.
Se pasa el día publicando lo feliz que es en redes sociales. A mí me hace pensar en eso de 'dime de qué presumes...'.
B2He spends all day posting how happy he is on social media. It makes me think of that saying, 'tell me what you brag about...'.
✍️ About the Author
📜 Historical Context
This proverb has been part of Spanish oral tradition for centuries. It reflects a cultural value rooted in stoicism and Catholicism, which often view humility as a virtue and ostentation as a sin or a sign of weakness. It's a piece of timeless folk psychology.
🌍 Cultural Significance
This is one of the most common proverbs in the Spanish-speaking world. It's a cultural tool for social analysis, used to gently critique others or to reflect on one's own motivations. It champions authenticity over superficial displays.
📚 Literary Analysis
The proverb's power lies in its direct, cause-and-effect structure ('Dime... y te diré...'). This creates a formula for psychological diagnosis. The parallel structure of 'de qué presumes' (what you boast of) and 'de qué careces' (what you lack) makes it incredibly memorable and rhetorically balanced.
⭐ Usage Tips
As Social Commentary
Use this proverb when commenting on someone's boastful behavior to a friend. It's a way of saying, 'I see through their act.' It's more observational and insightful than directly confrontational.
For Self-Reflection
This is also a great tool for introspection. If you find yourself constantly talking about a certain achievement or possession, you can ask yourself, 'Why do I feel the need to broadcast this? What insecurity might this be hiding?'
🔗 Related Quotes
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: Dime de qué presumes y te diré de qué careces.
Question 1 of 2
What is the core psychological idea behind 'Dime de qué presumes y te diré de qué careces'?
🏷️ Categories
Themes:
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it considered rude to say this to someone?
It can be, depending on your tone and the situation. It's a direct psychological observation that can feel like an accusation. It's more commonly said *about* someone in conversation with a third party than said directly *to* their face.
Is there a direct English equivalent?
Not a single, common proverb that captures the exact meaning. The English phrase 'The lady doth protest too much, methinks' from Shakespeare has a similar psychological insight, suggesting that strong denials or assertions can reveal the opposite. However, the Spanish proverb is much more common in everyday speech.