Great Throughts Treasury

This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.

African Proverbs

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"When there is no enemy within, the enemies outside cannot hurt you."

"A donkey knows no gratitude."

"Indecision is like a stepchild: if he does not wash his hands, he is called dirty, if he does, he is wasting water."

"Instruction in youth is like engraving in stones."

"He who forgives ends the quarrel."

"It takes a village to raise a child."

"One cannot both feast and become rich."

"The pillar of the world is hope."

"Do not tell the man carrying you that he stinks."

"The eye is a coward."

"The poor man and the rich man do not play together."

"To the joyless man death is a blessing."

"Treat the days well and they will treat you well."

"Whatever accomplishment you boast of in the world, there is someone better than you."

"When deeds speak, words are nothing."

"Where the rooster crows there is a village."

"Make some money but don?t let money make you. ? Tanzania"

"A bad cook also has his/her share of the bad food. ? African Proverb"

"A beautiful one hurts the heart. ? African Proverb"

"A bird that flies off the earth and lands on an anthill is still on the ground. ? Igbo proverb"

"A beautiful thing is never perfect. ? Egyptian Proverb"

"A barber does not shave himself."

"A camel never sees its own hump."

"A child is a child of everyone. ? Sudanese proverb"

"A chicken with beautiful plumage does not sit in a corner. ? African Proverb"

"A chattering bird builds no nest."

"A child's fingers are not scalded by a piece of hot yam which his mother puts into his palm."

"A close friend can become a close enemy.? African proverb"

"A chick that will grow into a cock can be spotted the very day it hatches."

"A comb becomes bad when it hurts you."

"A doctor who invoked a storm on his people cannot prevent his house from destruction. ? Nigerian proverb"

"A cutting word is worse than a bowstring, a cut may heal, but the cut of the tongue does not."

"A crab does not give birth to a bird."

"A dog knows the places he is thrown food."

"A family is like a forest, when you are outside it is dense, when you are inside you see that each tree has its place."

"A family tie is like a tree, it can bend but it cannot break. ? African proverb"

"A dog knows the places he is thrown food. ? Acholi Proverb"

"A fight between grasshoppers is a joy to the crow. ? Lesotho proverb"

"A fool and water will go the way they are diverted."

"A fool may chance to put something into a wise man's head."

"A flea can trouble a lion more than a lion can trouble a flea. ? Kenyan proverb"

"A fool looks for dung where the cow never browsed."

"A good deed is something one returns."

"A friend is someone you share the path with. ? African proverb"

"A good thing sells itself, a bad one advertises itself."

"A large chair does not make a king. ? Sudanese proverb"

"A housewife who complains that there is not enough foodstuff in the market should remember that if her husband adds to what is already available, there would be more for everyone. ? Nigerian Proverb"

"A happy man marries the girl he loves, but a happier man loves the girl he marries. ? African proverb"

"A leader who does not take advice is not a leader. ? Kenyan proverb"

"A healthy person who begs for food is an insult to a generous farmer. ? Ghanaian Proverb"