“A man who does not possess cows cannot govern.”
Leadership is earned by first managing one's own responsibilities well; those who cannot govern their own affairs cannot be trusted to govern others.
— Traditional South Sudan Wisdom, South Sudan
Source: Nuer (South Sudan) proverb, from "A Collection of 100 Nuer Proverbs and Wise Sayings" by Margaret Wambere Ireri with Daniel Chier and John Maker, African Proverbs Working Group, Tangaza University College, Nairobi
More Proverbs from South Sudan
A friend is someone you share the path with.
True friendship is shown by walking life's journey together, not just by words.
Two heads are better than one.
A community that works together, as in hunting parties, succeeds where a lone individual cannot.
There are not big horns, they are all horns.
A person's worth should be judged by character and behavior, not by outward size or status — all are equal.
A roaring lion does not catch any prey.
Loud boasting without action achieves nothing; results come from deeds, not declarations.
The hyena that bit the cow will do it again.
Wrongdoing left unaddressed will be repeated; a mistake must be corrected so it does not happen again.
The death of the father does not make the son an orphan.
The extended family and community continue to raise and support a child even after a parent is gone.