Ua ola ipiniu.
“They used cups for fish-baskets.”
A remark on times of scarcity — so little was caught that ordinary cups sufficed to hold the catch.
— Traditional Samoa Wisdom, Samoa
Source: Traditional Samoan proverb, public-domain oral tradition
More Proverbs from Samoa
Stones rot, but words do not.
A promise or a spoken statement outlasts even solid rock — words carry lasting weight and must be honored.
Words do not break bones.
Harsh words may sting, but they cannot physically harm the way violence does — encouragement to bear criticism with composure.
Who sits at home in the morning will not eat in the evening.
Idleness in the early part of the day leads to want later on — a warning against laziness.
The crab did not consult with its legs before they went off to pinch.
Young people who act rashly without seeking the counsel of their elders bring trouble on themselves.
It is like a cave — something promised, but never given.
Describes an empty promise, something spoken of but never delivered.
Strong in heart, but broken in the back.
Said of someone whose willpower and courage exceed their physical strength.