“To judge an elephant, look at its tail; to judge a girl, look at her mother.”
Character can often be read from a telling detail — an elephant's tail, or the example set by a mother.
— Traditional Laos Wisdom, Laos
Source: factsanddetails.com, "Lao Language: Dialects, Grammar, Names, Writing, Proverbs and Insults"
More Proverbs from Laos
When the buffalo dies it leaves its horns behind; when a person dies they leave their name behind.
A person's reputation and good name outlast their life, so it is worth guarding.
One may know a face without ever knowing the heart.
Outward appearance reveals nothing about a person's true intentions or character.
When the water rises, hurry and scoop it.
Take advantage of favorable conditions while they last, because they will not remain forever.
Slowly, slowly, and one gets a fine knife.
Patience and careful work produce a better result than rushing a job.
A distant buffalo always seems to have a long tail.
Things and people far away seem more impressive than they really are; distance flatters what is unfamiliar.
When the water rises, the fish eat the ants; when the water recedes, the ants eat the fish.
Fortune and power shift with circumstance, and today's victim can become tomorrow's victor.