Meglio un asino vivo che un dottore morto. — Italian Proverb | Printable Wall Art

“Meglio un asino vivo che un dottore morto.”
“Better a live donkey than a dead doctor.”

A traditional Italian saying, set as gallery-quality typographic wall art.

About this quote

This practical proverb suggests that simple survival and good health matter far more than intellectual status or professional pride. An uneducated person who remains alive and well can still experience life and contribute to the world, whereas a brilliant scholar gains nothing from their credentials once gone. It encourages humility, pragmatic choices, and placing well-being above status.

This traditional Italian folk saying belongs to oral culture rather than a single author. Recorded across various regional dialects for centuries, it reflects common rural wisdom regarding health, practical sense, and survival.

People often hang this print in a study or home office as a humorous reminder to prioritise health over overwork.

What you get

An instant digital download. Choose your design and size at checkout — 19 typographic designs and 8 print sizes are available for this quote.

• Print-ready PDF with fully embedded vector type — sharp at any scale
• Exact trim size, no cropping required
• Print at home, at a local print shop, or upload to an online printer
• Instant download — no physical item is shipped

Sizes available

5" x 7" · 8" x 10" · 11" x 14" · 12" x 16" · 16" x 20" · 18" x 24" · 24" x 36" · A4 (21 x 29.7 cm)

Designs available

Atelier Serif · Quiet Garamond · Studio Left · Gallery Rule · Midnight Serif · Editorial Left Serif · Modern Sans Calm · Letterpress Caps · Poster Condensed · Script Whisper · Manuscript Italic · Asymmetric Left · Minimal Unsigned · Charcoal Sans · Gallery Frame · Soft Serif Right · Statement Serif · Night Script · Tracked Caps Unsigned

Digital product. Colours may vary slightly between screens and printers. Frames and props are not included.