Traditional Iraq Wisdom

“Possessions are flying birds -- they never find a place to settle.”

Material wealth is fleeting and never permanently settles with anyone.

“A man's personal god is a shepherd who finds pasturage for the man.”

A person's guardian deity watches over and provides for them, like a shepherd tending sheep.

“The lion who lives a life of compassion will receive it.”

Kindness shown to others, even the weak, is eventually returned in kind.

“That my friend should be well is our wish, and that our enemies should be gone!”

A simple wish for the wellbeing of friends and the downfall of enemies.

“A loving heart builds houses. A hating heart destroys houses.”

Love and cooperation build a household; hatred tears it apart.

“When a trustworthy boat sets sail, Utu seeks out a trustworthy harbour for it.”

The sun god Utu guides the honest and trustworthy safely to their destination.

“He who possesses many things is constantly on guard.”

Great possessions bring constant worry and vigilance rather than peace.

“Who can compete with righteousness? It creates life.”

Righteous conduct is unmatched in its power to sustain and create life.

“You should not cut the throat of that which has already had its throat cut.”

One should not add further cruelty to something already defeated or destroyed.

“What has submitted will exhibit resistance.”

Whatever has been forced into submission will eventually push back.

“Wealth is far away, poverty is close at hand.”

Wealth is difficult to attain, while poverty is always close and easy to fall into.

“Tell a lie and then tell the truth: it will be considered a lie.”

A reputation for dishonesty ruins even a later truthful statement.

“A heart never created hatred; speech created hatred.”

Careless words, not feelings alone, are what truly create hatred between people.

“Hand added to hand, and a man's house is built up.”

Cooperation and shared effort, hand joined to hand, is what builds a household.

“He who insults is insulted. He who sneers is sneered at.”

Disrespect shown to others returns to the one who gives it.

“Talking endlessly is what humankind has most on its mind.”

Excessive talk is one of humanity's most persistent tendencies.

“By following craftiness, one learns how to be crafty.”

Observing cunning behavior teaches others to become cunning themselves.

“Strength cannot keep pace with intelligence.”

Wisdom and intelligence ultimately outmatch raw physical strength.

“Tell me who your friends are, and I'll tell you who you are.”

A person's character is revealed by the company they keep.

“When a camel falls to the ground, the knives are many.”

When someone falls from power or fortune, many are quick to take advantage of them.

“He who is watching the club does not understand the one who is beaten with it.”

Someone who has never suffered a hardship cannot fully understand the pain of those who have.

“You will discover your true friends in moments of crisis.”

Genuine friendship is proven in hard times, not good ones.

“Trust in Allah, but keep a tight leash on your camel.”

Have faith, but also take sensible, practical precautions.

“A book is like a garden carried in the pocket.”

A good book is a small, portable source of endless delight and knowledge.

“When stomachs are operating, eyes become blind.”

Hunger or greed can cloud a person's judgment and blind them to reason.

“The tree is diseased by its own worms.”

The greatest danger to something often comes from corruption within it, not from outside.

“He is not the owner, yet he makes noise on the roof.”

Someone without real authority acts loudly as though they had it.

“An eye cannot become above an eyebrow.”

A subordinate should not try to rise above or overrule their superior.

“When the mother dies, the house dies.”

A mother is the heart that holds a family and household together.

“One night of anarchy does more harm than a hundred years of tyranny.”

A single night of lawlessness can cause more damage than a century of oppressive but stable rule.

“He wants to put eyeliner on an eye, but he blinds it.”

A clumsy attempt to fix or improve something ends up ruining it instead.

“Sometimes you need to sacrifice your beard in order to save your head.”

It is sometimes wise to accept a smaller loss in order to avoid a much greater one.

“An army of sheep led by a lion would defeat an army of lions led by a sheep.”

Strong, capable leadership matters more than the raw strength of individuals.

“You do not exit the bathroom the same as you entered.”

A difficult or transformative experience changes a person by the time it is over.

“The wet man never fears the rain.”

Someone who has already lost everything has nothing left to fear.

“He who cannot manage his own wheat will end up eating barley.”

Mismanaging one's own good fortune leads to a lesser outcome.

“The provision for tomorrow belongs to tomorrow.”

There is no need to worry today about problems that belong to tomorrow.

“One who is drowning will even grab onto a snake.”

A desperate person will cling to any hope of rescue, however dangerous.

“Stealing leads to poverty.”

Dishonestly gained wealth never truly enriches a person.

“Someone who does not know how to dance says the ground is sloping.”

People often blame outside circumstances rather than admit their own shortcomings.

“A beautiful bride needs no dowry.”

True worth and beauty need no additional decoration or persuasion.

“He killed the snake with a friend's hand.”

Using someone else to carry out a risky or dishonest act while avoiding the blame oneself.

“Accusation always follows the cat.”

The usual suspect is blamed for wrongdoing, whether or not they are actually guilty.

“Two thirds of a boy is his uncle.”

A maternal uncle is said to have major influence in shaping a boy's character.

“Extend your leg only as far as your blanket.”

Live within your means, and do not overreach beyond what you can afford.

“You can have a lord, you can have a king, but the man to fear is the tax collector.”

Everyday, close-at-hand authority is felt and feared more than distant power.

“When a ship increases its sailors, it will sink.”

Too many people trying to lead at once can ruin an otherwise sound effort.

“If you conduct yourself properly, then fear no one.”

Acting with integrity removes the need to fear judgment or consequence.

“Walk a month instead of crossing a river.”

It is wiser to take a longer, safer path than to risk a dangerous shortcut.

“The day will wipe out all the promises of the night.”

Promises made in the heat of the moment often do not survive the light of day.