Pran douvan avan douvan pran-w.

“Take the lead before the lead takes you.”

You must know how to anticipate trouble so it does not catch you by surprise.

Apatoudi menné koulèv lékol, sé fè-y sizé i tout.

“It is not enough to lead a snake to school — you must also make it sit down.”

Starting a project is not enough; the real difficulty is seeing it through to the end.

Bannann jonn pa ka vini vèt.

“Yellow bananas do not turn green again.”

Some changes cannot be undone; there is no going back once something has run its course.

Vrè zanmi ka konté si on sel min.

“True friends can be counted on one hand.”

Genuine, trustworthy friendships are rare, however many acquaintances a person has.

Nónm la ka di san fè, bondié ka fè san di.

“Man says it without doing it; the good Lord does it without saying it.”

People are often full of empty words, while real outcomes unfold quietly, without announcement.

A fòs makak karésé pitit a-y, i kyouyé'y.

“By dint of caressing its baby, the monkey killed it.”

The best can become the enemy of the good; even care and affection can be harmful in excess.