“The guest is always the prisoner of the host.”
A visitor must follow the customs and wishes of whoever is hosting them.
— Traditional Rwanda Wisdom, Rwanda
Source: Traditional Rwanda proverb, public-domain oral tradition
More Proverbs from Rwanda
Laws are heavier than stones.
Formal rules and obligations weigh on people more heavily than any physical burden.
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There is no place where peace reigns at night.
Darkness brings uncertainty; true safety cannot be taken for granted even where things seem calm.
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A proverb never comes as if from nowhere.
Every piece of traditional wisdom is rooted in real experience and carries a genuine lesson.
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Homes might burn all night, but they always go out by morning.
Even the fiercest troubles eventually subside; hardship does not last forever.
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A name is not the man.
A person's reputation or title does not define their true character; judge by actions, not labels.
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There is no pregnancy that is not useful.
Every undertaking carried through to term produces something of value, even if its worth is not obvious at first.
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