ນ້ຳຂຶ້ນປາກິນມົດ ນ້ຳລົງມົດກິນປາ
“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.
— Traditional Laos Wisdom, Laos
Source: Traditional Lao proverb, shared with the wider Mekong-basin Lao-Tai region, public-domain oral tradition
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.
Big fish eat small fish.
The strong and powerful tend to take advantage of the weak, so the weak must stay watchful.