Cinco de Mayo (May 5th) commemorates the Mexican Army's 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla, symbolizing Mexican resistance, not Independence Day (which is September 16th). While a minor holiday in Mexico, it's a larger cultural celebration in the U.S., honoring Mexican heritage with vibrant parades, food, music, dance, and cultural events such as the reenactments of the Battle of Puebla. May these inspirational quotes about Cinco de Mayo offer you insights that will inspire you and help you celebrate the festivities of the May holiday.
1. “In Mexico, we never forget; we always remember those who fought for freedom on Cinco de Mayo.” – Monica Ortiz
2. “Cinco de Mayo is an important day. The Mexicans had to defend themselves from the French.” – Kuno Becker
3. “If life gives you limes, make margaritas.” – Jimmy Buffett
4. “I don’t drink anymore for Cinco de Mayo. I celebrate with Mexican food, or as it’s known in Mexico: food.” – Craig Ferguson
5. “Freedom is not given; it is won.” – A. Philip Randolph
6. “I can think of many reasonable excuses for needing a cocktail, but Cinco De Mayo is always a no-brainer.” – Rachel Hollis
7. “Democracy is the destiny of humanity; freedom its indestructible arm.” – Benito Juárez
8. “Happy Cinco de Mayo! It’s a holiday that’s as respectful of Mexican traditions as Epcot Center’s Mexican food pavilion.” – Conan O’Brien
9. “Celebrate what you want to see more of.” – Tom Peters
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10. “The history of Mexico is a chronicle of constant struggle, but it is also a testament to Mexico's invincible spirit.” – Carlos Fuentes
11. “But when I grew up and started going to San Diego and started drinking margaritas, that’s when Cinco de Mayo celebrations started for me.” – Marcela Valladolid
12. “I was taken in by the bravado and the sounds of Mexico.” – Herb Alpert
13. “It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees.” – Emiliano Zapata
14. “Between the weak who have no reason to win and the strong who have no excuse to lose, the victory is sure to belong to the brave.” – Benito Juarez
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15. “The music, the dance, the food. All these things express the heart and soul of a culture.” – Aida Rodriguez
16. “The history of every country begins in the heart of a man or woman.” – Willa Cather
17. “Small cheer and great welcome makes a merry feast.” – William Shakespeare
18. “On Cinco de Mayo, we celebrate the unity that defines us and the pride that uplifts us.” – Alejandro Ramirez
19. “A nation, however weak, which defends its liberty deserves the respect of the world.” – General Ignacio Zaragoza
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20. “Cinco de Mayo is historically significant, but it is not Mexican Independence Day.” – Kuno Becker
21. “True patriotism hates injustice in its own land more than anywhere else.” – Clarence Darrow
22. “The most valuable possession you can own is an open heart; the most powerful weapon you can be is an instrument of peace.” – Carlos Santana
23. “The enemies of the country and of freedom of the people have always denounced as bandits those who sacrifice themselves for the noble causes of the people.” – Emiliano Zapata
24. “Unity is strength. When there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved.” – Mattie Stepanek
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25. “There are great legends and great fighters in the history of Mexico, and there will be more to come.” – Canelo Alvarez
26. “Honor to the soldier, and Sailor everywhere, who bravely bears his country’s cause. Honor also to the citizen who cares for his brother in the field, and serves, as he best can, the same cause.” – Abraham Lincoln
27. “Mexico City is a timeless place, a beautiful entanglement of contrast and contradictions.” – Aleph Molinari
28. “What else is there for the rich to do, if not to relieve the poor of their misery.” – Pancho Villa
29. “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
30. “Cinco de Mayo has come to represent a celebration of the contributions that Mexican Americans and all Hispanics have made to America.” – Joe Baca
More Fun and Happy Cinco de Mayo Phrases and Quotes
31. “People ask me all the time, What do you do for Cinco de Mayo?” – Marcela Valladolid
32. “Since it is May 5th and I’m on a diet, I’ll take the Cinco but hold de Mayo.” – Dan Adam
33. “Mexico is a mosaic of different realities and beauties.” – Enrique Peña Nieto
34. “They said wearing red, white, and blue on Cinco de Mayo was an insult to Hispanics.” – Jared Taylor
35. “At least you don’t need a prescription for tequila.” – Steve Jobs
36. “One single visit is not enough to be able to say that you know Mexico.” – Enrique Peña Nieto
37. “I took a trip down to Mexico. It kind of changed my perspective on life a little bit.” – Derrick Favors
38. “A day without a margarita is like a taco without seasoning—bland and unacceptable.” – Anonymous
39. “Life is better when you’re laughing with friends and licking guac off your fingers.” – Anonymous
40. “There is nothing more precious than laughter—it is strength to laugh and lose oneself, to be light.” – Frida Kahlo
41. “The land belongs to those who work it with their hands.” – Emiliano Zapata
42. “Our roots will always be in Mexico, deep down in that rich soil.” – Oscar Zeta Acosta
43. “Nothing is absolute. Everything changes, everything moves, everything revolves, everything flies and goes away.” – Frida Kahlo
44. “If you have a dream, don’t let anybody take it away.” – Selena Quintanilla
45. “If you don’t get out there and try to solve your own problems, it’s never going to change.” – Dolores Huerta
46. “Only when we have become nonviolent towards all life will we have learned to live well with others.” – Cesar Chavez
47. “One day there will be no borders, no boundaries, no flags and no countries and the only passport will be the heart.” – Carlos Santana
48. “If there is no justice for the people, let there be no peace for the government.” – Emiliano Zapata
49. “Mexicans, at the cry of war, assemble the steel and the bridle.” – Francisco González Bocanegra
50. “My mother gave me one piece of advice that stuck with me. She said don’t forget where you came from.” – Eva Longoria
Share these Famous Cinco de Mayo Sayings and Quotes from Mexicans and Mexican-Americans with your friends, family, and loved ones to inspire them as well.
2. “Cinco de Mayo is an important day. The Mexicans had to defend themselves from the French.” – Kuno Becker
3. “If life gives you limes, make margaritas.” – Jimmy Buffett
4. “I don’t drink anymore for Cinco de Mayo. I celebrate with Mexican food, or as it’s known in Mexico: food.” – Craig Ferguson
5. “Freedom is not given; it is won.” – A. Philip Randolph
6. “I can think of many reasonable excuses for needing a cocktail, but Cinco De Mayo is always a no-brainer.” – Rachel Hollis
7. “Democracy is the destiny of humanity; freedom its indestructible arm.” – Benito Juárez
8. “Happy Cinco de Mayo! It’s a holiday that’s as respectful of Mexican traditions as Epcot Center’s Mexican food pavilion.” – Conan O’Brien
9. “Celebrate what you want to see more of.” – Tom Peters
11. “But when I grew up and started going to San Diego and started drinking margaritas, that’s when Cinco de Mayo celebrations started for me.” – Marcela Valladolid
12. “I was taken in by the bravado and the sounds of Mexico.” – Herb Alpert
13. “It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees.” – Emiliano Zapata
14. “Between the weak who have no reason to win and the strong who have no excuse to lose, the victory is sure to belong to the brave.” – Benito Juarez
16. “The history of every country begins in the heart of a man or woman.” – Willa Cather
17. “Small cheer and great welcome makes a merry feast.” – William Shakespeare
18. “On Cinco de Mayo, we celebrate the unity that defines us and the pride that uplifts us.” – Alejandro Ramirez
19. “A nation, however weak, which defends its liberty deserves the respect of the world.” – General Ignacio Zaragoza
21. “True patriotism hates injustice in its own land more than anywhere else.” – Clarence Darrow
22. “The most valuable possession you can own is an open heart; the most powerful weapon you can be is an instrument of peace.” – Carlos Santana
23. “The enemies of the country and of freedom of the people have always denounced as bandits those who sacrifice themselves for the noble causes of the people.” – Emiliano Zapata
24. “Unity is strength. When there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved.” – Mattie Stepanek
26. “Honor to the soldier, and Sailor everywhere, who bravely bears his country’s cause. Honor also to the citizen who cares for his brother in the field, and serves, as he best can, the same cause.” – Abraham Lincoln
27. “Mexico City is a timeless place, a beautiful entanglement of contrast and contradictions.” – Aleph Molinari
28. “What else is there for the rich to do, if not to relieve the poor of their misery.” – Pancho Villa
29. “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
30. “Cinco de Mayo has come to represent a celebration of the contributions that Mexican Americans and all Hispanics have made to America.” – Joe Baca
More Fun and Happy Cinco de Mayo Phrases and Quotes
31. “People ask me all the time, What do you do for Cinco de Mayo?” – Marcela Valladolid
32. “Since it is May 5th and I’m on a diet, I’ll take the Cinco but hold de Mayo.” – Dan Adam
33. “Mexico is a mosaic of different realities and beauties.” – Enrique Peña Nieto
34. “They said wearing red, white, and blue on Cinco de Mayo was an insult to Hispanics.” – Jared Taylor
35. “At least you don’t need a prescription for tequila.” – Steve Jobs
36. “One single visit is not enough to be able to say that you know Mexico.” – Enrique Peña Nieto
37. “I took a trip down to Mexico. It kind of changed my perspective on life a little bit.” – Derrick Favors
38. “A day without a margarita is like a taco without seasoning—bland and unacceptable.” – Anonymous
39. “Life is better when you’re laughing with friends and licking guac off your fingers.” – Anonymous
40. “There is nothing more precious than laughter—it is strength to laugh and lose oneself, to be light.” – Frida Kahlo
41. “The land belongs to those who work it with their hands.” – Emiliano Zapata
42. “Our roots will always be in Mexico, deep down in that rich soil.” – Oscar Zeta Acosta
43. “Nothing is absolute. Everything changes, everything moves, everything revolves, everything flies and goes away.” – Frida Kahlo
44. “If you have a dream, don’t let anybody take it away.” – Selena Quintanilla
45. “If you don’t get out there and try to solve your own problems, it’s never going to change.” – Dolores Huerta
46. “Only when we have become nonviolent towards all life will we have learned to live well with others.” – Cesar Chavez
47. “One day there will be no borders, no boundaries, no flags and no countries and the only passport will be the heart.” – Carlos Santana
48. “If there is no justice for the people, let there be no peace for the government.” – Emiliano Zapata
49. “Mexicans, at the cry of war, assemble the steel and the bridle.” – Francisco González Bocanegra
50. “My mother gave me one piece of advice that stuck with me. She said don’t forget where you came from.” – Eva Longoria
Share these Famous Cinco de Mayo Sayings and Quotes from Mexicans and Mexican-Americans with your friends, family, and loved ones to inspire them as well.