“The beauty of a tree is its leaves; the beauty of a person is patience.”

What truly makes a person admirable is patience, just as leaves are what make a tree beautiful.

“One who does not use proverbs is unintelligent, and one that does not chew the cud is a donkey.”

Skillful use of proverbs is treated as a mark of wisdom and eloquence in speech.

“Time and the dog come without being called.”

Certain things, like time passing, arrive on their own whether or not you summon them.

“It is better to suffer with your own people than to eat porridge by yourself.”

Belonging to a community matters more than private comfort enjoyed alone.

“They say it is for the baby, but they eat it themselves.”

A saying that exposes hypocrisy — claiming to act for others while really serving oneself.

“If the insult is not understood, it sounds like a song.”

Words that are not understood lose their power to wound.