“Catch the bird, but watch for the wave.”
Pursue opportunity without losing awareness of the danger that may be close beside it.
— Traditional Pitcairn Islands Wisdom, Pitcairn Islands
Source: Traditional Polynesian proverb, shared regional heritage carried by Pitcairn's founding Tahitian mothers, public-domain oral tradition
More Proverbs from Pitcairn Islands
Hold your tongue, sir, or you are a dead man this instant.
Fletcher Christian's words to Captain Bligh during the mutiny of 28 April 1789 — the point of no return that, a year later, led the mutineers to found the hidden settlement on Pitcairn Island.
Never fear the sea, fear the storm.
Distinguish ordinary difficulty from genuine danger; do not let familiar hardship frighten you, but respect real threats.
It is never too late to give to those who do not have.
Generosity has no expiry date; there is always an opportunity to help someone in need.
The well-trodden path is not always the right path.
Popularity is not proof of correctness; question convention rather than following the crowd blindly.
The canoe ride is pleasant when the paddler is skilled.
Competence makes any journey smoother; skill and preparation ease every undertaking.
A wise man does not build his house on the sand.
Build the foundations of a life, a family, or a plan on what is solid and lasting, not on what looks convenient today.