Great Throughts Treasury

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

Swahili Proverbs

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"Aiming isn’t hitting."

"It is better to build bridges than walls."

"Standing is still going."

"A custom is like a law."

"A drowning person does not stop thrashing about/around."

"A dodo (a type of mango) is the same as (i.e. just as good as) a kisukari (a type of banana). (Don't be too choosy!)"

"A spear is only (to be used) against a pig; against a human being it is painful."

"A single finger does not (i.e. cannot) break (i.e. crush/kill) a louse."

"Blood is heavier than water."

"Delay so that you may arrive (i.e. reach your destination)."

"An empty debe (a kind of square jerry can) does not stop making noise."

"Donating (money) is only a matter of willingness and not wealth."

"Don't provoke (the) bees."

"Don't insult (the) midwives as long as you are still able to give birth."

"Education has no end(ing)."

"Don't throw away a centipede/millipede (together) with its stick."

"Haste has no blessing."

"If a child cries for a razor-blade, give it to him."

"He who sows haphazardly, eats (i.e. reaps) haphazardly."

"Give way to the strong one/person."

"How come that the pepper/chili which you are not eating (but which you probably can see) is too hot for you?"

"He who isn't around, his (share) isn't around (either). (This is to make sure that people don't miss events — e.g. meetings — unnecessarily.)"

"Patience pulls (i.e. attracts) success."

"If you don't seal a crack (in the wall), you will (have to) (re)build a (complete) wall."

"The child (i.e. offspring) of a snake, is (also) a snake (that's to say: evil is inherited)."

"If water has been spilt, it cannot be scooped up."

"If you want to eat a(n entire) pig, eat a fat one."

"The medicine (i.e. antidote) for/against fire is fire."

"The path/route of a liar is short."

"To spill (scatter) rice in front of chickens."

"The fee/present of (i.e. given by) a person is to talk, (but) a gentleman is deed/action (i.e. a gentleman acts)"

"Too many cooks spoil the sauce/gravy/broth."

"When the cat has gone away, the mice rule/govern/prevail."

"Wait at the bottom, for the one who is up."

"Unity is strength, disunity is weakness."

"Where smoke is being generated, there is a fire."

"Wait hurts the entrails."

"Where there is a will/an intention, there is a way."

"A bad brother is far better than no brother."

"A bad coconut renders good ones bad."

"A bad excuse is better than none at all."

"A beginning is painful, the end is enjoyable. A happy ending comes after a painful effort."

"A barber does not shave himself."

"A big heart is better than a big brain."

"A bad job is not as worthless as a good game."

"A boat doesn't go forward if each one is rowing their own way."

"A bird that imitates others does not get used to a place."

"A blind person does not forget his walking stick."

"A brother is (as useful as) a cooking pot, and a neighbor is (as useful as) a cooking pot lid."

"A brother is a cooking pot, and a neighbor is a cooking pot lid."