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Bane seretha ne icuhma. Ore la erede ne icuhma ko co ridi da ni bonelu.

“The best defense against an enemy is to attack first.”

Waiting passively for trouble to arrive is weaker than meeting a threat with decisive action.

— Traditional New Caledonia Wisdom, New Caledonia

Source: Traditional Nengone (Kanak, Maré) proverb, interpreted by Dora Waicane from academician Willy Nemia, collected by Stéphanie Geneix-Rabault — ALK corpus, 2011, public-domain oral tradition

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More Proverbs from New Caledonia

Nowé wè diè ngà vï wawèkêê nii.

“Do not reject the words of the elders.”

The counsel of elders carries hard-won experience and should never be dismissed by the young.

Traditional New Caledonia Wisdom

Source: Traditional Kwényïï (Kanak) proverb, collected from Eugénie Gouraya by Stéphanie Geneix-Rabault, Nouméa, 2009 — Académie des Langues Kanak (ALK) corpus, public-domain oral tradition

Hya thebanem!

“The future is before you — do not turn back.”

Face forward and keep moving toward what is ahead rather than dwelling on what is behind.

Traditional New Caledonia Wisdom

Source: Traditional Jawé (Kanak) proverb attributed to informant Tarou Loulou, collected by Wedja Camoui — Académie des Langues Kanak (ALK) corpus, 2013, public-domain oral tradition

Dröne i elu ne qagejë hna hule hnei uke theleci a thatre kö la hna trotro.

“The bourao leaf is carried off by the current, not knowing where it goes.”

A person without direction or purpose drifts through life at the mercy of circumstance, just like a leaf swept along by water.

Traditional New Caledonia Wisdom

Source: Traditional Drehu (Kanak, Lifou) proverb — Académie des Langues Kanak (ALK) corpus, "Edromë: Proverbe", public-domain oral tradition

Bane rue ore alayene ni bo. Ore co wapono ko co cilebut ore thu hnahna.

“Rid yourself of shame and timidity, and accomplish your will.”

Excessive shyness or self-doubt holds people back; real progress requires the courage to act.

Traditional New Caledonia Wisdom

Source: Traditional Nengone (Kanak, Maré) proverb, interpreted by Dora Waicane from academician Willy Nemia, collected by Stéphanie Geneix-Rabault — ALK corpus, 2011, public-domain oral tradition

Son ore bo deko co tetow ri thuben. Dai carajewelu ore ace co rue!

“Think before you act.”

Careful reflection before a decision prevents the regret that follows a hasty one.

Traditional New Caledonia Wisdom

Source: Traditional Nengone (Kanak, Maré) proverb, interpreted by Dora Waicane from academician Willy Nemia, collected by Stéphanie Geneix-Rabault — ALK corpus, 2011, public-domain oral tradition

Caa ke tang otr, caa ke tang wahep ke oloû hminya obanyen böhngöc.

“With no bag of lobsters and no bag of urchins either, he ends up with his finger bitten by a moray eel.”

Chasing too many opportunities at once, without settling on one, often leaves a person with nothing but harm to show for it.

Traditional New Caledonia Wisdom

Source: Traditional Iaai (Kanak, Ouvéa) proverb, collected from informant Helloa Saulo by Wejë Bae — Académie des Langues Kanak (ALK) corpus, 2012, public-domain oral tradition

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