Chad Proverbs (51)

Nan ngon ì kóò ngon.

“A child's maternal uncle is, in truth, a second mother.”

A mother's brother owes his sister's children the same care and closeness a mother would, reflecting how deeply family duty runs through the maternal line.

I-bbol màdi tá, i-rai bbe.

“If you respect your friend, together you will build the village.”

Mutual respect between companions is the foundation on which a strong, lasting community is built.

Oo ya màdi à, oon yai o.

“Listen to what is said of your friend, and listen for yourself as well.”

Criticism spoken about someone else is often a lesson worth applying to oneself, since the same faults rarely belong to only one person.

Ngon àw mba tá, gèr mba.

“First the child sets out on the road, and only then does he come to know the stranger.”

Real understanding of other people and customs comes only through the experience of traveling and meeting them, not by staying home.

Yò ì mende, ré màdí ún à, ún o.

“Death is like the game of méndé: if your friend plays, play beside him.”

In hardship and mourning, as in a shared game, true friends stand together and take their turn at each other's side.

Màn à gang, bà bbo à gang àlé.

“The rain can stop falling, but hunger never stops.”

Basic needs such as hunger allow for no pause, so the work needed to meet them must continue whatever the weather brings.

Kùm ì ngè-bbol, bà ji ì ngè-ra.

“The eyes are afraid, but it is the hands that do the work.”

A task may look frightening from a distance, but it is action, not fear, that actually gets the work done.

Ngè-ta tà táà, nàl kày táà àlé.

“The one who warns that the sauce is running low is the one who will not dare finish it alone.”

Someone who loudly urges others to hold back is often the one quietly planning to take the largest share.

Yáá kä köy tä, i-ra kä ngàngá àlé.

“Matters that touch the throat should never be handled by force.”

A pressing or sensitive dispute is resolved with patience and wisdom, never by aggression, or it will only choke tighter.

Nàjä kä tà lò söl tä i käla bajäl.

“The word spoken at night is the tail of the black lizard.”

Agreements or decisions made in the dark of night, when judgment is clouded, carry little real weight; serious matters wait for the clarity of day.

Áá kä döi tä à, kä ji tä òso.

“Keep watching what sits on your head, and what is in your hand will fall.”

No one can give full attention to two urgent matters at once; a mind divided between two priorities will let one of them slip.

Ngè-kàl kagä àl, äsà kä bbogärò.

“The one who does not climb the tree eats only the unripe fruit.”

Only those willing to make the effort reach the best rewards; whoever avoids the climb must settle for less.

Bbètä kä bbi äsà mänjo àlé.

“The monkey that sleeps does not eat the beans.”

Opportunity favors those who stay alert and active; the idle miss what is freely there for the taking.

Màdä-bbeí ì ngè-töl hòr dòí tä.

“It is your neighbor who puts out the fire at your own house.”

In a true emergency it is the neighbor close at hand, not distant family, who comes to help, so neighbors deserve constant care and respect.

Gòwró kä ngon ì kä kùmänèé.

“Even the little squash carries its own seeds.”

Even the young or the small have something worth offering, so their voices deserve a place in the council.

Shin cubin, soun cubunnodi bozú.

“Give him an inch, and he will take a mile.”

A small concession to a greedy or opportunistic person invites them to take far more than was offered.

Kûdi hi gûshi labannuún.

“Do not let a dog guard the ribs.”

Never place someone in charge of exactly what tempts them most; trust must match restraint, not just position.

Yuzo yê durdo yê yum turo hoscini.

“Famous people cannot hide.”

A person of reputation or standing is always recognized and cannot escape the attention that comes with it.

Goni hi gûndunú, kûruni hi hunaktunú.

“Do not beat around the bush.”

Speak plainly and get to the point rather than circling around a difficult subject.

Aba murdom yidado, ba murdom yidannó yugó.

“You are not alone; your family is always there.”

No one truly stands alone, because family remains a constant source of support through every hardship.

Dagunu dôre cunnukan lôore cuatú.

“The decision of God is irrevocable.”

What is destined or divinely ordained cannot be reversed by human effort or protest.

Wûni yê adibi yê, turo, kunu yugó.

“Small fires and women possess great power.”

Do not underestimate something because of its size; even the smallest fire or the quietest influence can hold enormous power.

Yuhadu njennaán ha mêdi yeún!

“Do not place your trust in someone who is untrustworthy.”

A person who has already shown themselves unreliable should not be given further trust.

Wûroei nôushi gunu.

“Precaution is not fear.”

Taking careful steps to protect oneself is wisdom, not cowardice.

Heureusement que Dieu n'a pas donné les cornes à l'âne.

“Thank goodness God did not give horns to the donkey.”

Some natural limitations are a blessing in disguise, protecting others from greater harm.

Même la nuit le lait est blanc.

“Even at night, the milk is white.”

Certain truths remain constant no matter the circumstances; reality cannot be hidden or altered by darkness.

On ne prend pas le feu avec la main.

“You do not catch fire with your hand.”

Reckless or careless action invites certain harm; some risks should never be taken directly.

Une parole est comme un fil de raphia; si vous le tirez de la natte, vous ne pourrez le remettre à sa place.

“A word is like a thread of raffia; once you pull it from the mat, you cannot put it back.”

Spoken words cannot be taken back once released, so they must be chosen with care.

Envoyez un autre à votre place, vos pieds auront du repos, mais pas votre coeur.

“Send someone in your place, and your feet will rest, but not your heart.”

Delegating a task may spare the body the effort, but the worry and responsibility for it still remain.

Celui qui brûle sa barbe en sentira l'odeur.

“He who burns his own beard will smell its odor.”

Whoever creates their own trouble will be the one to suffer its consequences.

Intercepte l'ombre, mais n'intercepte pas la parole.

“You may take shelter in another's shadow, but never interrupt someone's words.”

It is acceptable to share in another's comfort or protection, but a person's speech should never be cut off while they are talking.

Celui qui a grandi avec son père connaît les histoires racontées par son grand-père.

“He who grew up with his father knows the stories told by his grandfather.”

A child raised close to their parents inherits the family's history and wisdom passed down from earlier generations.

Les yeux sont les gobelets de la parole.

“The eyes are the cups that hold the word.”

Looking directly at someone while they speak helps you truly take in and understand their message.

La parole est comme les feuilles de palmier; plus on tape dessus plus elles se fendent.

“A word is like palm leaves: the more you strike them, the more they split apart.”

Dwelling on an argument only drives people further apart; disputes are better resolved by seeking harmony than by revisiting blame.

Les défenses de l'éléphant ne conviennent qu'à l'éléphant.

“The elephant's tusks suit only the elephant.”

What fits one person's strength, role, or burden is not automatically fitted to another; each carries what belongs to their own nature and station rather than comparing themselves to others.

L'abeille voit sa ruche avant de produire le miel.

“The bee sees its hive before it produces honey.”

Before any valuable result can be achieved, one must first know and secure one's own foundation or home; purposeful work begins with a clear sense of where one belongs.

àr nàng ndaa à kàri bbo àr mei nda à kàri el

“If you give to the land, it will give back to you; if you give to your stomach, it gives you nothing back.”

Investing effort in productive work such as farming brings a lasting return, while feeding only immediate appetite leaves nothing behind for the future.

ain lél bba ain ndi

“One must flee the wind before fleeing the rain.”

Act on the first warning signs of trouble rather than waiting until the full storm has already arrived.

baou ndoh bba to bo baou là godo

“One may find a farmer rich in his fields, but not one rich in money.”

A farming life measures wealth in land and harvest, not in coin, so its rewards should not be judged by a cash standard.

bùlà dùm doo dog nda dog tél nain

“When numbers overtake the buffalo, it becomes meat.”

A lone hunter cannot bring down a buffalo, but a united group easily can; real strength comes from acting together, not alone.

bùlà màji né ra bbo màji né so el

“Numbers suit work well, but they do not suit eating.”

Many hands make labor lighter and faster, but a shared meal only stretches thinner the more mouths join it.

bbel da ge mbàtà gàjé el

“One should not fear an animal because of its horns.”

A frightening appearance is not proof of real danger; judge by conduct, not by outward show.

deou ge dingem to íri oree màree bba masseu

“A person is like sorrel leaves, which turn sour once mixed with others.”

Character can be corrupted by bad company, the way a clean-tasting leaf sours once mixed with the wrong company in the pot.

deou ge ra né liya ge ji ngaou mbadé lé to ngokon nje tuji né

“Whoever slackens in their work is brother to the one who destroys it.”

Neglect and sabotage lead to the same ruin, so carelessness in one's own labor is judged as harshly as deliberately wrecking it.

deou mbad né ra ge mbatà njè bogò el

“One does not abandon a work of labor for fear of the thief.”

The risk that something might be stolen or lost is never reason enough to stop building or growing it.

do kàr sùr bba ger baouje

“It is at dusk that the true farmers are known.”

Genuine dedication to work is shown by who is still in the field at day's end, not by who merely talks about farming.

ká dàlè bbar lo jóo ndaa ogue lo la

“Two drums beating at once prevent the dance.”

Conflicting commands or divided leadership throw everyone out of step; harmony needs a single, clear rhythm to follow.

kei ndaa naï kuli bbo ndoh ndaa peur kàr

“The hut is built in the cool season, and the field is worked in the hot season.”

Every task has its rightful season; wisdom lies in doing each thing at the time it is naturally suited for.

kos lee nje dabb ad meen ndoh ge rang

“The lazy man's hoe is sharp when it works another's field.”

A person who shirks their own duties can still be quick to work hard for someone else, exposing laziness as more about will than ability.

nàd ndoh le bobije a kàri né el

“The number of your father's fields will give you nothing.”

Inherited land or wealth counts for nothing until you put in your own effort; self-reliance, not inheritance, is what sustains a person.

“To know where one is going, one must first know where one is.”

Clear progress requires an honest assessment of your current position; you cannot chart a path forward without first understanding where you truly stand.