La parole est comme l'eau qui coule, elle ne se ramasse pas avec les doigts.
“The word is like running water; it cannot be gathered back with the fingers.”
Once something is said, it cannot be unsaid — speak carefully.
— Traditional Mauritania Wisdom, Mauritania
Source: Traditional Toucouleur (Halpulaar) proverb, shared Senegal River valley oral tradition including Mauritania, public-domain
More Proverbs from Mauritania
A stone from the hand of a friend is an apple.
A gift or hard truth from a friend, however rough it seems, is given in goodwill and should be received as such.
Before eating, open your mouth.
Nothing can be accomplished without first taking the basic, obvious step needed to begin.
One must talk little, and listen a lot.
Wisdom favors those who listen more than they speak.
He who has no spoon will burn his hands.
Without the right tools or preparation, a person suffers avoidable harm.
A donkey which goes to grow horns returns with its ears cut off.
Chasing after something beyond one's nature can cost what a person already had.
Not all the flowers of a tree produce fruit.
Not every promising beginning or beautiful appearance leads to real, lasting results.