Mexico, Competence - understand-culture

Grade Averages for Judges

In 2025, Mexico elected its judges by popular vote. Expansión reported that candidates needed “por lo menos ocho de calificación en la Licenciatura en Derecho” (a grade of at least eight in the law degree) and a “calificación mínima de nueve en la especialidad a la que se postularon” (a minimum grade of nine in the specialization for which they ran).

“Sí, es un requisito establecido en la Constitución” (Yes, it is a requirement set in the Constitution), said the electoral councilor Carla Humphrey. In June 2025, the INE, the electoral institute, excluded five elected judges who had not reached the required average.

We the Nobles

In the film Nosotros los Nobles (2013), a rich father pretends to be bankrupt so that his three irresponsible children learn to work. In June 2013, Animal Político reported that the film had earned about 25.4 million dollars and had been seen by almost six million people in Mexico. It was “la película con más éxito de taquilla en la historia reciente del cine mexicano” (the most successful film at the box office in the recent history of Mexican cinema).

Whoever Does Not Cheat

El que no transa, no avanza. “Whoever does not cheat does not get ahead.” In a column in the newspaper Vanguardia in August 2026, Juan Pablo Becerra links the saying to the political identity of the years of PRI rule.

The column is titled “La cultura de la transa en México” (The culture of cheating in Mexico), and it quotes the saying as a complaint.

The World Cup of 1986

In late 1982, Colombia gave up hosting the 1986 World Cup. Its president, Belisario Betancur, announced: “Anuncio a mis compatriotas que el Mundial de Fútbol 1986 no se hará en Colombia” (I announce to my compatriots that the 1986 World Cup will not be held in Colombia). On May 20, 1983, the Executive Committee of FIFA chose Mexico in its place, unanimously.

In September 1985, a powerful earthquake struck Mexico City. Inspections found no serious damage to the stadiums, and “la decisión fue seguir adelante y mantener a México como sede” (the decision was to go ahead and keep Mexico as host).

The Law Against Paperwork

Mexicans use the word tramitología for excessive paperwork. On April 22, 2025, Excélsior headlined: “Presidenta envía a diputados ley contra tramitología” (President sends deputies a law against tramitología). Expansión headlined the same bill: “Sheinbaum propone nueva ley para abatir tramitología y burocracia” (Sheinbaum proposes a new law to cut tramitología and bureaucracy).

The National Law for the Elimination of Bureaucratic Procedures was published in the official gazette on July 16, 2025.

Skill Over Strength

Más vale maña que fuerza. “Skill is worth more than strength.” The Mexican business magazine Emprendedor lists it among Mexican sayings to apply in business. It explains the saying as “la importancia de la inteligencia y la habilidad sobre la fuerza bruta” (the importance of intelligence and skill over brute force).

Learning by Ear

In 2011, UNESCO inscribed mariachi on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Its description states: “El aprendizaje de oído es el principal medio de transmisión de la música mariachi tradicional” (Learning by ear is the main means of transmitting traditional mariachi music). It adds that “las competencias técnicas se transmiten de padres a hijos” (technical skills are passed from parents to children).

The Seniority Premium

Article 162 of Mexico’s Federal Labor Law gives workers, in the cases it lists, a prima de antigüedad, a seniority premium. “La prima de antigüedad consistirá en el importe de doce días de salario, por cada año de servicios” (The seniority premium shall consist of the amount of twelve days of wages for each year of service).

Five World Cups

The goalkeeper Antonio “La Tota” Carbajal played for Mexico in five World Cups in a row: Brazil 1950, Switzerland 1954, Sweden 1958, Chile 1962 and England 1966. The sports newspaper Récord calls him the first footballer in history to play in five World Cups.

The Devil Knows More

Más sabe el diablo por viejo que por diablo. “The devil knows more from being old than from being the devil.” The Nueva Escuela Mexicana, the school program of the Ministry of Public Education, includes it in a collection of sayings for students. The magazine Chilango explains that it is about how “la experiencia se encuentra sobre la astucia” (experience stands above cleverness) as a source of wisdom.