“Help from abroad always comes after the rain has stopped.”
Outside assistance often arrives too late to matter; self-reliance is more dependable.
— 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.
Traditional Rwanda Wisdom
Read more →
There is no place where peace reigns at night.
Darkness brings uncertainty; true safety cannot be taken for granted even where things seem calm.
Traditional Rwanda Wisdom
Read more →
A proverb never comes as if from nowhere.
Every piece of traditional wisdom is rooted in real experience and carries a genuine lesson.
Traditional Rwanda Wisdom
Read more →
Homes might burn all night, but they always go out by morning.
Even the fiercest troubles eventually subside; hardship does not last forever.
Traditional Rwanda Wisdom
Read more →
A name is not the man.
A person's reputation or title does not define their true character; judge by actions, not labels.
Traditional Rwanda Wisdom
Read more →
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.
Traditional Rwanda Wisdom
Read more →