“The tongue has no bone, yet it can break a person's heart.”
Words cost nothing to speak but can wound more deeply than a blow.
— Traditional Guinea Wisdom, Guinea
Source: Traditional Guinea proverb, public-domain oral tradition
More Proverbs from Guinea
One tree does not make a forest.
Unity and community strength accomplish what a single individual cannot.
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It is the calm, silent water that drowns a man.
Quiet, unassuming appearances can hide the greatest danger.
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However long the night, the day is sure to come.
No matter how hard times become, better days will eventually arrive.
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A single bracelet does not jingle.
A person acting alone cannot achieve what a united group can.
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The kola nut does not lie.
A gift or gesture offered in sincerity, like the ceremonial kola nut, reveals true intention.
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A river that forgets its source will soon run dry.
A person who forgets their origins and family loses their strength.
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