Traditional Sierra Leone Wisdom

Wata-said ston no fred ren.

“A stone by the waterside is not afraid of the rain.”

A person already toughened by hardship is no longer troubled by more of the same.

Nɛk we no brok go wɛr kɔria.

“A neck that has not been broken will one day wear a necklace.”

One who endures without giving up will eventually be rewarded.

We lɛpɛt tit go hat am, na-in gɔt kin go kɔldɛt.

“When the leopard has a toothache, that is when the goat can go collect its debt.”

Take the chance to act when someone who usually threatens you is weakened.

Ɔkpɔlɔ no gɛt tit, bɔt if yu put yu han insai in mɔt, i go sɛt am.

“The frog has no teeth, but if you put your hand in its mouth, it will still bite you.”

Even those who appear powerless can defend themselves if provoked.

Taya noto lɛs.

“Being tired is not the same as being lazy.”

Do not confuse the exhaustion of hard work with unwillingness to work.

Gladi mɔt nɛba blo faya.

“A laughing mouth never fans the fire.”

Idle talk and laughter do not get the real work done.

Prɔmis na dɛt.

“A promise is a debt.”

A promise made must be honored just as surely as money that is owed.

Wata we yu no fred, na de yu go drong.

“The water you are not afraid of is the one that will drown you.”

Complacency about a familiar danger is often what brings disaster.

Haw di bata de bit, na so di dans de go.

“As the drum beats, so the dance goes.”

People respond and adapt to the circumstances that are set before them.

Yu yon dɔl kɔtlas pas yu neba in shap wan.

“Your own dull cutlass is better than your neighbor's sharp one.”

What belongs to you, however imperfect, is more dependable than what belongs to someone else.

Ɛni sai we yu si smok, faya de.

“Wherever you see smoke, there is fire.”

Visible signs usually point to an underlying truth.

Ful no de mɛn, bɔt kres de mɛn.

“A fool cannot be cured, but a mad person can be.”

Foolishness runs deeper than madness; ignorance is harder to fix than insanity.

Aligeta de rɔn frɔm ren, i fodɔn na wata.

“The crocodile runs from the rain and falls straight into the water.”

Fleeing one trouble can lead a person straight into a worse one.

If tu frɛn kip mɔni na wan ples, wan go glad, wan go sɔri.

“If two friends keep their money in one place, one will laugh and one will cry.”

Mixing money and friendship often ends in dispute.

Wɔd na fɔl ɛg.

“A word is like an egg — once it falls, it cannot be gathered back.”

Speak carefully, because words once spoken cannot be unsaid.

Pɛshɛnt dɔg it fat bon.

“The patient dog eats the fat bone.”

Patience is rewarded with the best outcome.

Wan han no de tai bɔndul.

“One hand cannot tie a bundle.”

Some tasks can only be accomplished through cooperation.

If yu de kɔl dɔg, yu no fɔ hol tik.

“If you are calling a dog, do not hold a stick.”

Do not invite someone's trust while also threatening them; be consistent in your intentions.

Hat noto bon.

“The heart is not made of bone.”

Even the toughest person can be moved; hearts can soften and change.

Mɔnki we no gɛt tit nɛba laf.

“A monkey with no teeth never laughs.”

People hide their weaknesses out of shame or self-consciousness.

Yu no go mɛso snek te i dai.

“You cannot measure a snake until it is dead.”

A dangerous or uncertain matter can only be judged once it is fully over.

Na yai de tes bifo mɔt.

“The eye tastes before the mouth.”

We desire and judge things visually before we ever actually experience them.

Noto ɔl tik mɔnki kin klɛm.

“It is not every tree a monkey can climb.”

Not every challenge suits every person; know your own limits.

Gɛt-gɛt no want, want-want no gɛt.

“He who has does not want; he who wants does not have.”

Wealth and desire are often mismatched — those with plenty are unsatisfied, while those who desire much often have little.

Kɔtin-tri fɔdɔn sote, i pas gras.

“No matter how far the cotton tree falls, it is still taller than the grass.”

A great person or thing, even brought low, still surpasses lesser things.

Dɔg we no gɛt tel no ebul salut in masta.

“A dog without a tail cannot properly greet its master.”

Without the proper means, one cannot fulfill what is expected of them.

Aiɛn no de hɔt te dɛn put am na faya.

“Iron does not get hot unless it is put in the fire.”

Effort and pressure are required to bring about real change or strength.

Di mɛrɛsin bita pas di sik.

“The medicine is more bitter than the sickness.”

Sometimes the cure for a problem causes more pain than the problem itself.

Pikin we no fred go mek in mama yai rɔn wata.

“A fearless child brings tears to his mother's eyes.”

Recklessness in the young causes worry and grief for those who care for them.

Fambul tik kin bɛn, i no de brok.

“A family tree may bend, but it never breaks.”

Family bonds endure hardship and remain unbroken.

If hos no sɛl yu, trit no go bai yu.

“If home does not sell you, the street will not buy you.”

Ruin from outside can only take hold after betrayal from within.

Krach-krach no de mek pus pikin fred.

“A little scratching does not make a kitten afraid of its mother.”

Occasional correction from a loved one does not break the bond of trust.

Mɔnki in trɔsis tait sote, i mɔs lɛf ples fɔ in tel.

“No matter how tight the monkey's trousers, he must leave room for his tail.”

However constrained circumstances become, one must still account for one's true nature.

Sɔfli sɔfli kech mɔnki.

“Softly, softly, catches the monkey.”

Patience and gentleness succeed where force and haste fail.

Pikin we no yɛri in mama in wɔd, srit go tren am.

“A child who will not listen to its mother's word will be trained by the street.”

A child who ignores guidance at home will learn harsher lessons from the outside world.

Bra Yuba no gɛt baba, bɔt in ed shain ɔltɛm.

“Brother Vulture has no barber, yet his head always shines.”

Some qualities appear naturally, without any need for outside help.

Tik te na wata sote, i no go tɔn to aligeta.

“No matter how long a stick lies in the water, it will never turn into a crocodile.”

A person's fundamental nature does not change simply through long exposure to a different environment.

If pɛpɛ swit, rɔb am na yu sɔfut.

“If pepper tastes so sweet to you, rub it on your sore foot.”

Do not praise something so freely unless you are willing to feel its sting yourself.