Traditional Seychelles Wisdom

Afors al larivier kalbas i kase.

“The jug that goes too often to the river breaks in the end.”

Push your luck too many times and it will eventually fail you.

Pti a pti zwazo in fer son nik.

“Little by little, the bird built its nest.”

Patience and small, steady effort accomplish great things.

Ant de brans ki pe frote pa met ledwa.

“Do not put your finger between two branches that are rubbing together.”

Stay out of other people's quarrels, or you may get hurt yourself.

Apre lafet grat latet.

“After the feast, one scratches one's head.”

Overspending in good times brings regret and hardship afterward.

Apre lanmor, la tizann.

“Medicine is given after the patient has died.”

Help or advice offered too late is worthless.

Apre lapli bo tan.

“After the rain comes the fine weather.”

Hard times pass, and better days always follow.

Balye nef, balye prop.

“A new broom sweeps clean.”

Newcomers often perform enthusiastically before habits and old ways return.

Balye devan ou laport avan regard salte devan laport ou kanmarad.

“Sweep in front of your own door before looking at the dirt in front of your neighbour's.”

Fix your own faults before criticizing others.

Banmarse I kout ser.

“What is bought cheap costs dear in the end.”

Buying something cheap often ends up costing more through repairs or replacement.

Barik vid i fer tapaz.

“An empty barrel makes the loudest noise.”

Those who know the least often talk the loudest.

Bat feray kan i ankor so.

“Strike the iron while it is still hot.”

Act on an opportunity immediately, before it cools and is lost.

Bef dan disab sakenn vey son lizye.

“When the cattle are in the sand, each one watches its own eyes.”

Everyone looks out for their own interests first.

Bezwen protez son pye diri.

“One must protect one's own rice plant.”

Guard the source of your livelihood carefully.

Byen malaki pa prospere.

“Wealth gained dishonestly never truly prospers.”

Ill-gotten gains bring no lasting benefit.

Bon kont I fer bon zanmi.

“Settling your accounts properly makes good friends.”

Paying what you owe keeps friendships strong.

Bondye pa dormi vent enler.

“God does not sleep lying on his back.”

Justice is always watching, even when wrongdoing seems to go unnoticed.

Bonzour pa rempli vant.

“Saying good morning does not fill the stomach.”

Politeness alone will not meet a person's real needs.

Dan maler ki ou konn ou zanmi.

“It is in misfortune that you truly know your friend.”

Hardship reveals who your real friends are.

Delo lo fey sonz.

“Like water rolling off a taro leaf.”

Something that has no lasting effect on a person, sliding right off them.

Disan i pli epe ki delo.

“Blood is thicker than water.”

Family bonds run deeper than other relationships.

Dormi zis en kote zorey.

“Sleep with only one ear resting.”

Stay alert even while resting; never let your guard down completely.

En move zouvrye i touzour blanm son zouti.

“A bad workman always blames his tools.”

People who fail often shift the blame instead of taking responsibility.

En promes se en det.

“A promise made is a debt owed.”

Once you give your word, you are obliged to honour it.

Fodre kas dizef pou fer lonmnet.

“You must break eggs to make an omelette.”

Worthwhile achievements require sacrifice and effort.

Fordre an forzan ki ou vin forzron.

“It is by forging iron that one becomes a blacksmith.”

Skill is built only through repeated practice.

Gard lalang pou manz diri.

“Keep your tongue for eating rice.”

Know when to hold your tongue instead of spreading gossip.

Golan pa fer serman pye bodanmyen.

“The fairy tern never breaks its faith with the Indian almond tree.”

True loyalty endures even through long seasons of separation.

Gran prometer, ti doner.

“A big promiser is a small giver.”

Those who promise the most often deliver the least.

Gros pwason manz ti pwason.

“The big fish eats the small fish.”

The powerful tend to take advantage of the weak.

Pa kont pti poul avan i eklo.

“Do not count your chicks before they hatch.”

Do not celebrate a result before it has actually happened.

Kras anler tomb lo nennen.

“If you spit into the air, it falls back on your own nose.”

Harm you intend for others often returns to hurt you instead.

Kourpa i annan zorey.

“Even the snail has ears.”

Even the slowest or quietest can overhear and pass on what was said.

Labitid i en segonn natir.

“Habit is a second nature.”

What we repeat often enough begins to feel completely natural.

Lake lisyen zanmen pou vinn drwat.

“A dog's tail will never become straight.”

Some things and some people never truly change their nature.

Lalang napa lezo.

“The tongue has no bone.”

Though soft, words can still wound deeply.

Lanmen drwat in lav lanmen gos.

“The right hand washes the left hand.”

People who help one another accomplish more together.

La pares i manman tou vis.

“Laziness is the mother of all vices.”

Idleness opens the door to bad habits and wrongdoing.

Lannwit I port konsey.

“The night brings counsel.”

Sleeping on a hard decision often brings clarity by morning.

Larzan i en bon serviter me en move met.

“Money is a good servant but a bad master.”

Used wisely, money helps you; ruled by it, you suffer.

Laverite i ofans son met.

“The truth offends its own owner.”

Harsh truths sting most the person who must admit them.

Ler sat pa la lera i danse.

“When the cat is away, the mice dance.”

People act freely once those in authority are absent.

Linyon i fer lafors.

“Unity makes strength.”

People working together achieve far more than they could alone.

Lisyen zape pa morde.

“A dog that barks does not bite.”

Loud threats are often empty and never followed by real action.

Lonm propoz, Dye dispoz.

“Man proposes, God disposes.”

People make plans, but the final outcome is beyond their control.

Maler I vin lo seval al lo torti.

“Misfortune arrives on horseback, and leaves like a tortoise.”

Trouble comes quickly, but recovery from it is painfully slow.

Malediksyon bef pa pran lo bouse.

“The cow's curse never touches the butcher.”

Complaints from the powerless rarely change the actions of the powerful.

Miray anan zorey.

“Walls have ears.”

Be careful what you say, because it may be overheard.

Pa met tou ou dizef dan menm panye.

“Do not put all your eggs in one basket.”

Spread your risk instead of depending on a single outcome.

Pa tou sa ki briye ki lor.

“Not everything that shines is gold.”

Appearances can deceive; something attractive is not always genuinely valuable.

Ponm pa tonm lwin ek son pye.

“The apple does not fall far from its tree.”

Children tend to take after their parents in character.