“If a child washed his hands, he could eat with kings.”
Merit and self-improvement can elevate a person above humble origins, earning them a place among the great.
— Traditional Nigeria Wisdom, Nigeria
Source: Igbo proverb, recorded in Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart (1958)
More Proverbs from Nigeria
Proverbs are the palm-oil with which words are eaten.
Proverbs make speech richer and easier to digest, so wisdom and difficult truths are best conveyed through them.
When a man says yes, his chi (personal god) says yes also.
A person's determination and effort shape their destiny; fortune favours those who assert their own will.
The lizard that jumped from the high iroko tree to the ground said he would praise himself if no one else did.
When others fail to acknowledge your achievements, there is honour in recognising your own worth.
A man who pays respect to the great paves the way for his own greatness.
Honouring those who came before and showing respect earns you the standing to rise yourself.
When the moon is shining the cripple becomes hungry for a walk.
A favourable moment or good conditions can awaken desire and courage even in those who normally hold back.
A single tree cannot make a forest.
No individual can achieve everything alone; community and cooperation are essential.