Great Throughts Treasury

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

Malaysian Proverbs

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"Be good with reason, but never do evil."

"One can pay back the gift of gold, but one dies forever in debt to those who are kind."

"Drink water while you swim."

"A banana plant does not bear fruit twice."

"A bad workman often blames his tools."

"A cock's fortune is seen on its legs, but a man's fortune cannot be foretold."

"A difficult task will be easier to accomplish with teamwork."

"A dumb fish will shun the golden hook."

"A greedy person is like a Dutch man asking for land."

"A diplomat should be yielding and supple as a liana that can be bent but not broken."

"A fool is like the big drum that beats fast but does not realize its hollowness."

"A frog beneath a coconut shell believes there is no other world."

"A greedy person will always ask for more."

"A lost wife can be replaced, but the loss of character spells ruin."

"A heavy load should be borne together as well as a light load."

"A lump of incense the size of the knee doesn't smell without being lit"

"A holy man who is fair is better than heavy rains, but a holy man who betrays is worse than a whole day of thunderstorms"

"A nobleman would not debase him himself if he mixes with the masses."

"A person dies but his deeds live on."

"A person who has forgotten his origins is like a peanut which has forgotten its shell."

"A person who doesn't know how to dance will say that the floor is not flat."

"A piece of incense may be as large as the knee, but unless burnt emits no fragrance."

"A person who has a narrow world view is like a frog under a coconut shell."

"A sampan gone too far can turn back, but not a man who said too much."

"A plan that is not followed through is) as hot as chicken shit."

"A serene fa‡ade can hide many secrets."

"A single egg, a village in uproar."

"A tiger that doesn't roar is a keen hunter."

"A torched village will let off smoke, but a torched heart burns silently."

"A tree with strong roots laughs at storms."

"A woman chasing a man is like a well that is looking for a bucket."

"A woman looking for a man is like a well looking for a pail."

"A turtle lays thousands of eggs, nobody knows; but when a hen lays an egg, the whole village know."

"A trouble shared is a trouble halved."

"A word said is a shot fired."

"Afraid to live, unwilling to die."

"A weakling trying to challenge a person with power."

"A young cow doesn't recognize the tiger."

"After one bad thing another follows."

"After falling, the ladder falls upon you."

"Although it may rain, cast not away the watering pot."

"An action deemed too late as the incident has already happened."

"An idle piece of iron will rust but an idle yam is filling."

"An old wound can bleed again."

"As long as you have the forest, you don't have to worry about firewood."

"An elephant carcass can't be covered with a rattan sieve."

"As heavy as it looks, it is heavier to the shoulder that he carries the thing."

"Bad luck doesn't have a smell."

"As a bamboo conduit makes a round jet of water, so taking counsel together rounds men to one mind."

"An ox with long horns, even if he does not butt, will be accused of butting."