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British Virgin Islands — quotes, proverbs & wisdom

Real words from the people of British Virgin Islands, each with a verified source. New quotes are added as each is fact-checked.

“What sweet in goat mouth is sour in his belly.”

Something that feels pleasurable in the moment can bring painful consequences later.

Traditional Virgin Islands Wisdom

Source: Traditional Eastern Caribbean/West Indian proverb, shared regional oral heritage of the Virgin Islands and neighboring West Indies, public-domain oral tradition

“Every day the bucket goes to the well, one day the bottom will drop out.”

Repeated risky or dishonest behavior eventually catches up with you.

Traditional Virgin Islands Wisdom

Source: Traditional Eastern Caribbean/West Indian proverb, shared regional oral heritage of the Virgin Islands and neighboring West Indies, public-domain oral tradition

“Little by little the bird builds its nest.”

Patient, steady effort accomplishes what haste cannot.

Traditional Virgin Islands Wisdom

Source: Traditional Eastern Caribbean/West Indian proverb, shared regional oral heritage of the Virgin Islands and neighboring West Indies, public-domain oral tradition

“One one coco full basket.”

Small, steady contributions accumulate into something substantial over time.

Traditional Virgin Islands Wisdom

Source: Traditional Eastern Caribbean/West Indian proverb, shared regional oral heritage of the Virgin Islands and neighboring West Indies, public-domain oral tradition

“Time longer than rope.”

Given enough time, the truth and justice will eventually catch up with everything.

Traditional Virgin Islands Wisdom

Source: Traditional Eastern Caribbean/West Indian proverb, shared regional oral heritage of the Virgin Islands and neighboring West Indies, public-domain oral tradition

“Play with puppy, puppy licks your mouth.”

Allowing too much familiarity without boundaries invites disrespect.

Traditional Virgin Islands Wisdom

Source: Traditional Eastern Caribbean/West Indian proverb, shared regional oral heritage of the Virgin Islands and neighboring West Indies, public-domain oral tradition

“Monkey knows which tree to climb.”

People instinctively know where their advantage or opportunity lies.

Traditional Virgin Islands Wisdom

Source: Traditional Eastern Caribbean/West Indian proverb, shared regional oral heritage of the Virgin Islands and neighboring West Indies, public-domain oral tradition

“Hard head makes soft backside.”

Stubbornness that refuses good advice usually ends in a painful lesson.

Traditional Virgin Islands Wisdom

Source: Traditional Eastern Caribbean/West Indian proverb, shared regional oral heritage of the Virgin Islands and neighboring West Indies, public-domain oral tradition

“Cut your coat according to your cloth.”

Live within the means you actually have, not the means you wish you had.

Traditional Virgin Islands Wisdom

Source: Traditional Eastern Caribbean/West Indian proverb, shared regional oral heritage of the Virgin Islands and neighboring West Indies, public-domain oral tradition

“Empty barrel makes the most noise.”

Those with the least substance often talk the loudest.

Traditional Virgin Islands Wisdom

Source: Traditional Eastern Caribbean/West Indian proverb, shared regional oral heritage of the Virgin Islands and neighboring West Indies, public-domain oral tradition

“Rain doesn't fall on one man's housetop alone.”

Hardship eventually touches everyone, not only the person suffering it now.

Traditional Virgin Islands Wisdom

Source: Traditional Eastern Caribbean/West Indian proverb, shared regional oral heritage of the Virgin Islands and neighboring West Indies, public-domain oral tradition

“The higher the monkey climbs, the more he shows his tail.”

The more a proud person rises, the more clearly their flaws are exposed.

Traditional Virgin Islands Wisdom

Source: Traditional Eastern Caribbean/West Indian proverb, shared regional oral heritage of the Virgin Islands and neighboring West Indies, public-domain oral tradition

“Sorry for maga dog, maga dog bite you.”

Kindness shown to the desperate or wretched is sometimes repaid with betrayal.

Traditional Virgin Islands Wisdom

Source: Traditional Eastern Caribbean/West Indian proverb, shared regional oral heritage of the Virgin Islands and neighboring West Indies, public-domain oral tradition

“If you can't hear, you will feel.”

A warning ignored is usually followed by a painful, firsthand lesson.

Traditional Virgin Islands Wisdom

Source: Traditional Eastern Caribbean/West Indian proverb, shared regional oral heritage of the Virgin Islands and neighboring West Indies, public-domain oral tradition

“Cockroach never right in front of fowl.”

In a dispute between an obvious wrongdoer and the one who confronts them, the wrongdoer rarely gets the benefit of the doubt.

Traditional Virgin Islands Wisdom

Source: Traditional Eastern Caribbean/West Indian proverb, shared regional oral heritage of the Virgin Islands and neighboring West Indies, public-domain oral tradition

“What is joke to you is death to me.”

Something that seems trivial or funny to one person may be a real hardship to another.

Traditional Virgin Islands Wisdom

Source: Traditional Eastern Caribbean/West Indian proverb, shared regional oral heritage of the Virgin Islands and neighboring West Indies, public-domain oral tradition

“A busy hand is better than an idle head.”

Productive work keeps a person out of trouble that idleness invites.

Traditional Virgin Islands Wisdom

Source: Traditional Eastern Caribbean/West Indian proverb, shared regional oral heritage of the Virgin Islands and neighboring West Indies, public-domain oral tradition

“Wood already bent is hard to straighten.”

Habits and character formed early in life are difficult to change later.

Traditional Virgin Islands Wisdom

Source: Traditional Eastern Caribbean/West Indian proverb, shared regional oral heritage of the Virgin Islands and neighboring West Indies, public-domain oral tradition

“No condition is permanent.”

Whether times are hard or good, circumstances always change eventually.

Traditional Virgin Islands Wisdom

Source: Traditional Eastern Caribbean/West Indian proverb, shared regional oral heritage of the Virgin Islands and neighboring West Indies, public-domain oral tradition

“One finger can't pick up a stone.”

Cooperation achieves what a single person acting alone cannot.

Traditional Virgin Islands Wisdom

Source: Traditional Eastern Caribbean/West Indian proverb, shared regional oral heritage of the Virgin Islands and neighboring West Indies, public-domain oral tradition

“A smiling face doesn't always mean a friend.”

Pleasant appearances can hide someone's true, less friendly intentions.

Traditional Virgin Islands Wisdom

Source: Traditional Eastern Caribbean/West Indian proverb, shared regional oral heritage of the Virgin Islands and neighboring West Indies, public-domain oral tradition

“Two dogs can't agree over one bone.”

When two parties both want the same limited prize, conflict is hard to avoid.

Traditional Virgin Islands Wisdom

Source: Traditional Eastern Caribbean/West Indian proverb, shared regional oral heritage of the Virgin Islands and neighboring West Indies, public-domain oral tradition

“Better belly buss than good food waste.”

A wry saying about not letting good food go to waste, even at the cost of overeating.

Traditional Virgin Islands Wisdom

Source: Traditional Eastern Caribbean/West Indian proverb, shared regional oral heritage of the Virgin Islands and neighboring West Indies, public-domain oral tradition

“Ask no question, hear no lie.”

Sometimes not prying into a matter spares you from being told a falsehood.

Traditional Virgin Islands Wisdom

Source: Traditional Eastern Caribbean/West Indian proverb, shared regional oral heritage of the Virgin Islands and neighboring West Indies, public-domain oral tradition

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