“Only he who treads on the fire feels it.”
Only the person who actually goes through hardship truly understands it.
— Traditional Libya Wisdom, Libya
Source: Traditional Libya proverb, public-domain oral tradition
More Proverbs from Libya
The absentee has his own justification.
Do not blame someone who is absent — they may have a reason you do not yet know.
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Stretch your legs according to the length of your coverlet.
Live within your means; do not spend or want beyond what you actually have.
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They sell the monkey and laugh at the one who bought it.
Describes dishonest dealers who profit by tricking a gullible buyer.
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The flute player dies with his finger still shaking on the flute.
A lifelong passion or habit stays with a person until their very last moment.
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Each one brings the fire closest to his own bread.
People naturally look after their own interests first.
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If the sun starts to lean west, go and find yourself a shady tree.
Prepare ahead of time for changing circumstances instead of waiting for hardship to arrive.
Traditional Libya Wisdom
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