Dominica Proverbs (12)

Piti hach ka bat gwo bwa.

“Little axe cuts big tree.”

Do not judge someone or something by its size; the small can accomplish what the large cannot.

Zandoli sav ki pyé bwa I ka mouté.

“The lizard knows which tree to climb.”

It is good to be wise; know your ground and choose your path carefully.

Wavèt pa ni padon douvan poul.

“The cockroach has no pardon in front of the fowl.”

Some situations leave no room for mercy or escape; certain consequences cannot be avoided.

Vyé kanawi ka fè bon bouyon.

“Old pots make good soup.”

Do not abandon the old and proven for the new; experience and tradition still hold great value.

“There are always two deaths, the real one and the one people know about.”

“If I was bound for hell, let it be hell. No more false heavens. No more damned magic.”

“I had two longings and one was fighting the other. I wanted to be loved and I wanted to be always alone.”

“Today I must be very careful, today I have left my armor at home.”

“A room is, after all, a place where you hide from the wolves. That's all any room is.”

“We should give the people not luxury but a little comfort. Dominica will never be rich, but it can be self-reliant.”

“Men have the grand vision, and they pass it on to somebody else to put into practice. Women follow the details more, they want to know that it is being put into practice.”

“Prime Minister of my own country.”

Vowed after being deported from Canada in handcuffs and leg irons in the 1970s; he fulfilled this vow in 2000 when he became Prime Minister of Dominica.