Spanish Phrase
No hay mal que por bien no venga.
Meaning
Literally, 'There is no evil that does not come for good.' It conveys the optimistic idea that every bad situation eventually brings something positive, similar to the English saying 'Every cloud has a silver lining.'
When to use
Use this proverb to comfort someone after a setback, to remind a friend that a difficult moment may lead to a beneficial outcome, or when you want to express a hopeful, philosophical view of life.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Nohaymalqueporbiennovenga
No hay
Impersonal construction meaning 'there is not/there are no'. It uses the verb 'haber' in the third‑person singular.
que (relative pronoun)
Introduces a subordinate clause that describes the preceding noun (mal).
por bien
Prepositional phrase meaning 'for good' or 'by means of good'.
venga (subjunctive)
Present subjunctive of venir, required after a negative universal expression like 'no hay ... que ... no'.
🗨In Conversation
Perdí mi empleo y ahora no sé cómo pagar el alquiler.
I lost my job and now I don’t know how to pay the rent.
No hay mal que por bien no venga. Tal vez encuentres algo mejor pronto.
There’s no evil that doesn’t bring some good. Maybe you’ll find something better soon.
✕Common Mistakes
No hay mal que por el bien no venga.
The proverb uses the fixed phrase 'por bien' without the article; adding 'el' sounds unnatural.
No hay mal que por bien no viene.
After the negative universal construction you need the subjunctive 'venga', not the indicative 'viene'.
No hay malas que por bien no venga.
The noun is singular 'mal' because the proverb refers to any single misfortune, not plural.
↔Alternatives
Cada nube tiene su lado plateado.
Every cloud has a silver lining.
No hay mal que dure eternamente.
No bad thing lasts forever.
Todo mal tiene su bien.
Every bad thing has its good.
Cultural Tip
This proverb is common across the Spanish‑speaking world, from Spain to Latin America. It is considered a classic 'refrán' and is often used in informal conversation, but also appears in literature and speeches. The structure 'No hay X que por Y no Z' is a typical pattern for optimistic sayings, so you’ll encounter similar phrases like 'No hay mal que por bien no venga' in many contexts.