The world is beautiful because it is varied — diversity is the source of beauty and interest. Uniformity would be boring; it is the difference between things that makes each one interesting.
This tolerant and optimistic proverb from Lombardy reflects the experience of a región that has been a crossroads of peoples, cultures, and commerce for millennia. The Roman legions, the Germanic Lombards (who gave the región its name), the Spanish, the French, the Austrians — all passed through and left something behind. The silk industry brought Chinese techniques; the textile industry brought workers from across Italy; the fashion industry brings international designers, buyers, and tastes. Milan learned early that variety was not a threat but a resource. The proverb is used to defend individual choices, to celebrate cultural diversity, and to rebuke intolerance. In a city that built its wealth on trading with the whole world, the variety of the world was the source of everything.
Lombard tolerant proverb from a región that has experienced two thousand years of cultural mixing. Milan's commercial success has always depended on engaging with variety rather than rejecting it.
A Milanese food journalist on the city's multicultural cuisine
Susheria giapponese, kebab turco, trattoria milanese — a duecento metri l'una dall'altra. Al mond l'è bel perché l'è vari.
Bar de sushi japonés, kebab turco, trattoria milanesa — a doscientos metros uno del otro. El mundo es hermoso porque es variado.
A Lombard mother defending her son's unconventional career choice
— Fa il fotografo? Non ti aspettavi il ragioniere? — Al mond l'è bel perché l'è vari. È felice, guadagna, cosa voglio di più?
— ¿Es fotógrafo? ¿No esperabas que fuera contable? — El mundo es hermoso porque es variado. Es feliz, gana dinero, ¿qué más quiero?
A Milanese design school director on student diversity
Abbiamo studenti da quaranta paesi. Al mond l'è bel perché l'è vari — questa mescolanza produce cose che nessuno farebbe da solo.
Tenemos estudiantes de cuarenta países. El mundo es hermoso porque es variado — esta mezcla produce cosas que nadie haría solo.
Two Milanese friends debating personal taste
— Come puoi preferire il jazz al rock? — Al mond l'è bel perché l'è vari. Meno male che non siamo tutti uguali.
— ¿Cómo puedes preferir el jazz al rock? — El mundo es hermoso porque es variado. Menos mal que no somos todos iguales.