Traditional Grenada Wisdom

Moon run run till daylight catch up.

“No matter how fast the moon runs, daylight will always catch up with it.”

Wrongdoing or unresolved matters cannot be outrun forever — the truth or the consequence eventually catches up with you.

“Play with puppy, puppy lick your mouth.”

Being too familiar or overly friendly with people below your station, or without proper boundaries, invites disrespect.

“What is joke for school children is death for crappo.”

What feels like harmless fun to one person can be a matter of life and death to another, so consider how your actions affect others.

“Two man-crab can't live in the same hole.”

Two people of equally strong will or authority cannot share the same position; rivalry between them is inevitable.

“When you see your neighbour house burning, take water and wet yours.”

Learn from other people's misfortunes and take precautions before trouble reaches your own door.

“What you plant is what you go reap.”

Your actions determine your outcomes — you receive back what you put into life.

“No matter how long the night, day must break.”

Hard times always come to an end eventually; keep hope through hardship.

“Monkey see, monkey do.”

People, especially children, imitate the behavior of those around them.

“Small axe cut down big tree.”

Persistent small efforts, applied steadily, can accomplish what looks like an impossibly large task.

“Who don't hear, will feel.”

A person who ignores advice or warnings will eventually learn the hard way through painful experience.

“Practice makes man perfect.”

Repeated effort and practice lead to skill and mastery over time.

“The bucket goes down the well every day; one day it won't come up again.”

Repeated risky or dishonest behavior will eventually lead to being caught or facing serious consequences.

“Who have cocoa in the sun must look out for rain.”

When you have something valuable or vulnerable at stake, stay alert and vigilant instead of getting distracted by minor things.

Mizè ka fè makak manjé piman.

“Misery makes the monkey eat pepper.”

When a person is left with no good options, hardship forces them into doing things they would normally never do.

Dan pa ka wi anyen ki bon.

“Teeth don't laugh at anything good.”

A smile is not always sincere; do not mistake a friendly face for genuine goodwill.