Proverbs Throughout the World African Proverbs Across the vast continent of Africa, many African nations disseminated proverbs that were meant to educate and inspire those who used them. Here are a few examples of African proverbs. • • •
“A tree is known by its fruit” – (of Zulu origin - this means that success is shown by the deeds.) “I have been bitten by a tsetse fly” – (of Tanzanian origin – this means that a person will continuously be a pest until you pay off a debt.) “The word of friend makes you cry – the word of an enemy makes you laugh” – (of Algeria, Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger – this means that a friend will tell you the truth and sometimes the truth hurts, whereas an enemy will only lead you down the wrong path by giving you advice that seems good but is not.)
Asian Proverbs Some examples of Asian proverbs include the following: • • •
“The old horse in the stable still yearns to run” – (this means that those who are older still have things they would like to accomplish.) “A spark can start a fire that burns the entire prairie” – (this means that a small problem can snowball into a huge problem that can cause major damage.) “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime” – (this means that teaching people is better in the long run because it gives them the skills to provide for themselves as opposed to you doing things for them.)
American Proverbs Some examples of American based proverbs include: •
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"Absence makes the heart grow fonder” – (this means that when you separate from someone that you love by putting distance between you that you will inevitably love them more and yearn to see them.) "All that glitters is not gold” – (this means that just because something looks good, does not necessarily mean that it is good.) "A monkey in silk is a monkey no less” – (this means that just because someone dresses fancy does not necessarily mean that they are fancy or of good character.)
English Proverbs Some examples of English proverbs include:
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Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise. It’s no use locking the stable door after the horse has bolted.
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Laugh and the world laughs with you, weep and you weep alone.
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See a pin and pick it up, all the day you’ll have good luck; see a pin and let it lie, bad luck you’ll have all day.
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‘Tis better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all.
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Monday’s child is fair of face/Tuesday’s child is full of grace,/Wednesday’s child is full of woe,/Thursday’s child has far to go,/Friday’s child is loving and giving,/Saturday’s child works hard for its living/And a child that’s born on the Sabbath day/Is fair and wise and good and gay.
Proverbs from Other Countries
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Arabic Proverb: An army of sheep led by a lion would defeat an army of lions led by a sheep. Finnish proverb: Even a small star shines in the darkness.
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Italian Proverb: After the game, the king and pawn go into the same box.
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Jewish Proverb: God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers.
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Russian Proverb: Better to stumble than make a slip of the tongue.
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Spanish Proverb: Since we cannot get what we like, let us like what we can get.
