“Cu avi, considera”
(Sicilian proverb)
It can be translated as
“Those who have, reflect with care,”
or
“He who possesses, acts with thought.”
This Sicilian proverb conveys the idea that individuals who possess something of value—be it wealth, wisdom, experience, or responsibility—tend to make decisions with greater caution and awareness.
To “consider” is to weigh the consequences, to act with foresight and responsibility.
There is an implicit moral suggestion here: that with ownership or influence comes the duty to act wisely.
But there is a deeper, more human layer to this proverb as well. It speaks to empathy: those who find themselves in the same situation as you are best placed to understand you.
In this way, the proverb becomes not only practical but relational—reminding us that true understanding comes from shared experience.
And then, of course, there is the famously ironic Sicilian variant:
“Cu avi culu, considera.”
Literally,
“He who has a backside, considers,”
which, in essence, suggests:
“If you had gas in your belly, you too would pass wind.”
Here, the saying is used with humour and irreverence to mock judgment or surprise over something that, in the same condition, anyone would have done.
It brings the same truth into comic relief: it is easy to judge from the outside—but step into the same shoes, and your response would likely be the same.