Baka meste korda, e ka tenel, kabra tenel, e ka ta rastal.
“The cow needs the rope and does not have one; the goat has one and drags it along.”
Those who truly need something often go without it, while those who do not need it have it in excess.
— 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.
The dog that barks does not bite.
Loud threats and complaints are often empty; the real danger comes from those who stay quiet.
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.