Katxor ki ta ladra ka ta mordi.
“The dog that barks does not bite.”
Loud threats and complaints are often empty; the real danger comes from those who stay quiet.
— Traditional Cape Verde Wisdom, Cape Verde
Source: Traditional Cape Verde proverb, public-domain oral tradition
More Proverbs from Cape Verde
What you eat, you pay for.
Every action returns to the one who committed it; consequences always catch up with you.
The eyes are bigger than the belly.
People often want or claim more than they can actually use or handle.
A bad path does not lead to a good place.
Wrong methods and dishonest means do not produce a good outcome, however tempting the shortcut.
Worse than the deaf is the one who does not want to listen.
Willful ignorance is more damaging than any physical limitation; refusing to listen is a choice.
An empty sack cannot stand up straight.
A person without food, rest, or resources lacks the strength to carry on; needs must be met before effort.
Even a dog bites its own owner.
Betrayal can come even from those closest and most trusted; no bond is a guarantee against harm.