Se lè koulèv mouri ou wè longè li.
“It is only when the snake dies that you see its true length.”
The full scale of a danger, problem, or a person's true nature is often only clear once it is over.
— Traditional Haiti Wisdom, Haiti
Source: Traditional Haiti proverb, public-domain oral tradition
More Proverbs from Haiti
Beyond the mountains, there are more mountains.
No matter how great your struggle, greater ones may still lie ahead — life presents challenge after challenge.
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Little by little, the bird builds its nest.
Patience and steady, small effort accomplish what haste cannot.
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Many hands make the load lighter.
Working together makes any burden easier to carry.
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One finger alone cannot eat okra.
No one can accomplish everything alone; people need one another.
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An empty sack cannot stand up.
A person with nothing to sustain them — no food, no support — cannot function or achieve much.
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Beautiful teeth do not mean a friend.
A warm smile does not guarantee true friendship; judge people by their actions, not their charm.
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