276.A man wanting to kill a snake will do well to grab its head because the rest is mere rope. When faced with a dangerous situation, it is best (at times) to confront it head-on. A direct approach solves the problem better than any other does. The most potent part of the snake is its head it holds it venom. Therefore, cutting the head neutralizes the snake for good. If you rid a group of its leader, the rest scatters. The leader has the ideas and keeps things moving. Getting rid of the leader weakens the followers.
277.Cassava is sweet, but one should not rush to eat it least it chokes them. Rushing to eat a food is bad. It could harm one. No matter how sweet a thing is, we should always take time how we use it. If we are not careful, we could choke on the very thing we like.
278.If in the forest, the best way to overcome cold is to warm each other. When faced with a dire situation, it is best to seek help with others that are in the situation with you. By sharing or working together, you will find a solution to safe both of you. Unity is better than division.
279.If you see a monkey asking a leopard for his debt, then either the leopard has a toothache or its paws are infested. When we are down that is when some will come to pick on you. In times of distress or weakness, anybody can take advantage of us. The leopard is unable to do anything to the monkey in such situation and the monkey knows it. Thus, he comes around to rub it in his face.
280.In a burning home, even enemies do not stop to argue. When situation gets to a point, it makes the strangest of bedfellows. In this case, both men realize the futility of arguing when they face imminent danger. Death is right next door; the last thing they have time for is some animosity. They would rather live to fight another day. This goes to show that many things we hold to heart are trivial if we are willing to look beyond them. One does not need a life-threatening situation to see the futility in making enemies and holding grudges over petty things.
281.Kuku jumu ku. This means if you are not inside something you do not now it. Our knowledge of a situation is limited to our participation in it. From without, it appears one way, but from within, it is another thing.
282.No matter how wide the river is it can be crossed. Every task can be accomplished. Though it may seem impossible at times, it is not. With proper planning and determination, we can do it.
283.Not everyone that smiles with you loves you. Many times we face situations where folks pretend around us to get something. In truth, not all smiles are true or have good intents. Even our enemies can smile at us, if it will give them a chance to get back at us.
284.Old fire trunk is not hard to catch. If a wood has been lit before, it is easy to relight it, normally; this saying goes in line with relationships. When a couple have had a relationship, it is not hard for them to fall for each other again or to get back together.
285.Only the lizard knows how warm a rock really is. We should not judge people, especially when we do not know their situations. Because the lizard lies on the rock, it is in a position to know how warm it is.
286.Stirring the water in the pond muddles it. A pond that is settled is calm, clean and even clear at times. When we stir it, we disrupt things. It does not help to go looking for trouble. If we provoke people we might just find ourselves in problems we could have avoided had we not.
287.The baboon calls a meeting, yet the monkey wants to read the agenda. Some people do not know their place in life. They are eager to show off at any chance they get. In this case, the monkey is not an equal of the baboon yet it feels it should take control of the meeting. There are people who will take you for a ride if you give them the chance to do so. They need to be put in their proper place.
288.The pot-top is always falling off because it is angry at the pot. The pot gets all the sweet while it gets only to taste and nothing but steam. Despite all this, they both make up the pot. To prepare a meal, one must use the two. Within a family, we are all not having the same roles, some do more in one area, others do less and vice versa. However, in the end, the collective efforts make the family strong. It is important to recognize the value of everyone in a family and not just some.
289.The quickest way to spoil friendship us by borrowing. Borrowing from people is not a bad thing by itself; it is what happens after we borrow. For some, they never return, other return too late and yet others may damage the item before it is returned. In any case, these acts have the potential to ruin relationships. It forces people into tight corners. If it is not comfortable to repair or fix the thing, we might have to buy a new one. Either way, the strain on the relationship is not always repairable.
290.The rain only wets the leopard's spots it never removes them. There are some things that never go away, they are an engrained part of us, and nothing changes that. In this case, no amount of washing, scrubbing or rain cleansing will remove the spots of the leopard. The spots are there to stay; they are part of its identity. If we are true to ourselves, we know that our roots remain with us no matter what.
291.The rope for a long life, is pooled by oneself. The way we live our lives play a huge part in how long we get to live. If we eat well, and take proper care of ourselves, the chances are high for long life. Contrary, if we are reckless and careless about our food, our health and surroundings, then we reduce those chances.
292.The ruin of a nation begins right in the home of its people. If a society loses its family values, its responsibilities and forsake its duties, its fall from grace is at hand. The family being the rock of any society can’t crumble and the society expects to survive. This is exactly what happened to our nation and we went from a dignified well loved and respected people, to nothingness.
293.The same heat that melts an iron hardens an egg. We have the ability to use any force for good or evil, it is up to us to make that choice. The fire can be a potent weapon of destruction or a tool for development. A woman may use her fire to cook food and boil eggs, or to burn down her village. The ultimate consideration here is not the fire, but the person and their motives.
294.The same ship that brought the Bible also brought rum. Ironically, when missionaries went to evangelize in Africa, they took their message along with the rum in the same ship. Now, the Bible frowns upon disorderly public behavior as a result of drunkenness. Yet, they came alongside rum. It is like one hand gave and the other took away from the message.
295.The strength of the crocodile is the water. The crocodile is powerful all right; but it needs the water as a partner for it to be as potent as it can be. Without the water, it is not as powerful
296.The trouser knows its master just as the dress knows its misses. Everyone knows their own, what is yours you know it. When regarding children, it means that a family knows its members well; better than anyone else.
297.The turtle, snail and other shell animals are friends; they keep close together. The saying that like-minded individuals, stay together is true in this instance. These animals face similar problems and together, they can share and overcome these difficulties. Their unity gives them strength to fend off danger or overcome their problems.
298.The water that you are not scared of is the one that drowns you. When we ignore to prepare for a threat because we think little of it or think it is too small, we are setting up ourselves for defeat. It is good to be confident, but overconfidence at the expense of proper preparation is a sure way to fail.
299.The way you got married isn't the way you'll get divorced. Love is sweet in the beginning. At that time, it appears that nothing can separate the lovers. It is an incomparable feeling. However, when things go south, people tend to forget this and turn on each other as enemies. All the love and care is gone and replaced with hatred and anger. This is the very opposite from the beginning.
300.The wealth of the wicked lasts for a season. Evil does not pay, at least not in the long run. It may for a while but it never lasts. It is better to gain one’s wealthy properly through hard work and dignity than through scams and fast tracked means. The ill-gotten wealt
h goes as it was gotten. Fast money does not last.
301.There is no difference between mothers and baby snakes; they are equally poisonous. When threatened, people will defend themselves. A mother will do whatever it takes to protect her child if she has to; in the same way, a young snake will defend its life if it is under threat. The instincts to survive are more powerful than ‘most anything else is.
302.There is no lion, which has not miss a prey. We all failed at some thing in life at one time or another. It takes time, practice and experience to master any skill. The lion may be a great hunter, but it has its fair share of misses.
303.There is no pond, which the sun cannot dry up. There is no problem without a solution. A pond may vary in size, but the sun can dry it up with time. A characteristic of ponds is that they are settled in one place and have no extra water flowing into them, thus, the sun can cause it to evaporate if it is hot enough or if it stays up long enough.
304.Those who get to the creek early drink the cleanest water. In the villages and towns, there is always some creek or river nearby. The town depends on it for many things. They use it to drink, cook, wash clothes, farm etc. because everyone has a different need, it is common for women and young maidens to rise early just to fetch their drinking water before the water get muddied. The earlier one goes, the cleaner their water will be because the river is undisturbed. The lazy wives go late and get to fetch dirty water. It is better to be an early riser in this situation. In life, if we prepare ourselves well, and early enough, we get to reap the best of things. The sooner we are prepared, the sooner we begin to enjoy the labor of our efforts.
305.To avoid cheating, God gave every creature a name. Some people will take advantage of any situation if they can. Once they see a loophole, they take it. Assigning clear responsibilities to them is a good way to stop them from doing this act. By clearly defining them (in this case naming them), it is easy to tell who is who and who is responsible for what. We need to be careful when dealing with these kinds of people.
306.Too much eating leaves you with a swollen belly. A greedy person suffers for his or her greed. The swollen belly here is an indication of the result of greed. It is uncomfortable and embarrassing.
307.Trouble sits alone in a corner but man goes looking for him. Locally we say, ‘trouble na look for man, man look for trouble’. There are provocateurs out there and we should be mindful of them, if we can avoid them, it is best.
308.True power comes through respect, not fear. A truly powerful person is one that is respected, not feared. Any power based on fear is only temporary. After a while, it goes away.
309.Two grown hippopotamuses cannot share the same pond. The size of the pond is one issue to consider in this scenario. However, this proverb is often related to people in disagreement. As individuals, we all have certain ways that are unique to us. These characteristics may come in conflict with others and when it does, we hear sayings like this. What it means is that at any one time, only one person has the final say. Hence, one person has to give in or go their separate way. This is the only way peace will prevail. If adults live together and are fond of disagreeing on everything, it is not hard to see why it is better for them to live separately, especially if they are not responsible for each other. If each person takes care of himself, then there is no need to subject oneself to the whims of the other all the time.
310.Two women can’t live under the same roof. Parents often use this saying to show who is the boss at home. If a young girl is misbehaving, it is common to hear her mother saying this. In a home, only one woman runs things. She has the say in who goes on in her kitchen, with her kids and many other things. Thus, it is translated as a form of disrespect when the child starts to make these decisions in direct opposition to the mother. If the child’s choices defy the mother’s then this comes out. The mother is then asserting her role. This is a desperate situation no child wants to be in. Any wise child avoids this line. Making one’s ward/parent this angry is not only disrespectful, but it wins one no favors from home or the community. Usually, when things go this far, the child backs down. They then have to follow the instructions of the mother carefully to avoid trouble. Even when a man marries several wives, he avoids this problem by providing separate homes for each wife. What more a child? It is a line of “you are in or out”. If you wish to stay, then act like a child, if not, then leave and go find your own home to rule over. Interestingly, when a child who is suspected of being sexually active is fond of misbehaving, this saying comes about. The notion is that, the child is tasting life and feels she is now a woman and ready. No well-meaning parent sits and allows this to happen. There can be only one woman in a house at a time.
311.Until lions have their own historians, the hunter will always tell the story as victors. No one will tell your story for you as it should be told. If you allow others to do so, expect them to tell it to favor them. The hunter never loses when he tells the tale. Similarly, Liberians should tell their stories. We should stop waiting for outsiders to come and tell our stories. No one knows about your culture, traditions and history better than you do.
312.Water that is for you won’t pass you. Some things are destined for you. Some say fate, others say destiny; regardless of how it is called, there is a general belief that what is truly yours will see your face. This is another parable that tries to explain this one. Delays may come, interruptions may arise but in the end, one gets what is rightfully theirs.
313.We do not see God we only see His works. This speaks about a pervasive belief…. That there is a creator. Although no one has seen Him, not hard to observe His handiwork in nature. If we look around us, we should be able to see that there is a God/Creator.
314.Wealth is like the dew. The dew has a characteristic of disappearing. It does not last long. When the sun comes up, it goes away. Our elders caution us to be mindful of this and to teat wealth with care. We should not allow our wealth to blind us from the reality and the people around us. This is easy to do when one has money. However, when the dew dissipates, we get to see clearly. We get to see that we are no better than the very people we ill-treated. By this time, it is normally too late to repair the damage we did.
315.What you give out is what you get back tenfold. It pays to be good. The notion that we received in tenfold, that which we give out means that giving out good is profitable than giving out bad. No one wants to receive bad things, more so have them come along ten times over. The best way to avoid this is to give out good. If this is followed, imagine how peaceful the world would be?
316.When eating with the devil, use a long spoon. If we must deal with dangerous people or situation, it is best to do so with utmost care and protection. We should do so from a distance if possible. If things begin to get out of hand, we can then flee well before they reach us.
317.When it rains, the vulture swears he will build a house; when the sun comes out, he forgets his promise and plays. Procrastination is the killer of development. Some people are easily fooled, others are just lazy. They live by the moment. They have no long-term plans. When they face a situation, they see the logic in finding a solution, but the moment it subsides, they forget it and go back to lazing around. The vulture here is such an animal in this parable.
318.When one is in love, even a cliff becomes a meadow. Love makes people do unimaginable things. It can be a powerful thing when used correctly. It can be a positive force when channeled correctly. In this case, the one in love does not allow the obstacle to hinder him. In fact, he views it with courage and has an optimistic mindset of it.
319.When the chief limps, all his subjects limp as well. Our elders are pillars in our society. They make important decisions for everybody. If a chief makes a mistake, it affects the whole town/village. If he and his advisors do so, it dooms the people. Because they are well respected, the people follow them. It I then important that they are cautious in making decisions.
320.When the door is closed, yo
u must find another way into the house. Although obstacles may present themselves, we need to press on. We must find alternatives to each one that we face. Giving up is not an option. There is always a way if there is a will.
321.When the song is over, the words remain. The rhythms, sounds, and beats of a song are all good things; however, they eventually end. The true value of a song that lingers is the words. Our minds play them over and these words are what that touch our hearts.
322.When we reach to that bridge, we will cross it. This is a famous parable in our setting. It has many interpretations. Many times, when facing a situation, we see too many obstacles. Some people are good at finding all the problems, never the solution. A good leader should know when to tackle issues bit by bit. There are times that we should press on and stop worrying over a problem that has not yet arrived. It is good to plan but to stop all actions just because a potential problem may arise is not so good for progress at times. Therefore, what people do is to find solutions to the problems that are pressing at the moment. When the time comes and they reach the ‘bridge’, they will then find solution to that problem. Often, by the time they reach that point, the problem has solved itself or a solution becomes evident.
323.When you see a frog climb a fence, you know that the ground is hot. When a situation gets desperate, we take measures that are even more desperate. The frog is fond of the ground when it is cold/cool. However, when the ground gets unbearably hot. Even the frog finds the energy to jump up on a fence just to escape the heat.
324.When you stand with the blessings of your mother and God, it matters not who stands against you. A heavy idea in Liberia is the blessing of our elders. We believe that a child needs the blessing of their parents and other elders around to succeed in life. A religious person that has both their parent’s and God’s blessings feels almost invincible. They see their foes as no threat. This comes from the earlier notion of respect for one’s elders. A child that respects its parents/elders has many good prayers going up for them.
325.When you wake up in the morning, you see the other person’s butt. This is normally used for people in relationships. It is said that when the attraction is new, or from afar, we never get the whole picture, but when a couple send their first night together, they get to see if they are livable or not. All the secrets of the other person get exposed. People cover their rears/butt well. They protect it and it is from this notion that the saying follows. It is not the actual ‘butt’ but what it represents- the secrets of the other person
326.When your neighbor's child falls into a pit, you should not rejoice, for your own child may fall into it too. It is never good to be happy over other people’s misfortune. It is just easily able to happen to you. We should sympathize with people when they are hurt. For life has a way of paying us.
327.Where an elder sits is an indicator of where he stood in his youth. If an elder is well respected, it may be due to his great deeds as a young man to his community. An elder that did much, gets more respect. Our elders are sometimes seated in order of hierarchy. This may be for ceremonial reasons but it is still an indication of one’s service and respect in a community.
328.Where there is love there is no darkness. Love is said to be light, happiness, joy, etc. when a couple truly love one another that love shines like a light. They are happy and enjoy their lives. They do not give room for negativity, evil or other ills. They are positive/optimistic.
329.Where there is smoke, there is fire. There can be no smoke if there is no fire. We often try to say that when a rumor persists, it most likely may hold some element of truth.
330.Whoever comes last at a party eats bad food. When we are late for important things, we miss the best part. Being punctual gives us the chance to get the best deal on time. At a party, the best food is served first, just as the best wine/drink. When it is finished, then the host serves whatever is available.
331.Wisdom is not like money to be hidden away. Our elders share their knowledge to those that are willing to learn them. They gave it away freely. The only requirement was one’s desire to have it.
332.Wives and women are different. Not every woman is a good wife; but every wife is a good woman. A wife knows her duties and makes her home her priority. A woman
333.Women like profitable relationships more than debt. When a relationship benefits all, the woman is happy. If given the choice of debt and happy relationship, they will opt for happiness. The profit here is not restricted to money. It is about the joy they can get out of being with someone they love. Only a foolish woman takes debt over happiness and love.
334.You can cure madness, but you can't cure stupidity. Some people are too full of themselves they are beyond the reach of help. A stupid person does not give room to be helped. She may not even know they need help unlike a mad person who can actually be treated.
335.You can’t trust the sky in the rainy season. They are as predictable as babies' bottoms. Reliability is a prized characteristic in life. However, some people are so unreliable they are not to be trusted ever.
336.You cannot pick up a stone with one finger. We need to work together to pull off some tasks. For some tasks, we need help. Going at them alone is useless.
337.You can't measure a snake until it is dead. If a snake is alive, no one risks going to measure its length. However, if it dies, it is no longer a threat to people. We can solve some problem only when they have gotten cold or settled down.
338.You do not become a chief just by sitting on a big stool. We must work hard to accomplish things in life. In this case, to be a chief, one can’t be lazy. One has to put everything inside getting the task done.
339.You do not need a big stick to break a roster's neck. We can handle some problem with ease. We do not need much to get them over with. In this case, the rooster’s neck does not need too much force to break it.
340.You must act as if it is impossible to fail. We need self-confidence in life. Even when we face danger, we must keep calm and face them.
341.You must be willing to die in order to live. A person not willing to risk it all to live does not have much to live for. A person who is willing to take the greatest risks is not afraid of dying if that is what it takes to get a task accomplished.
342.You must eat an elephant one bite at a time. We must face some of our problems one-step at a time. It does us no good to crowd them upon us. If the problem is too big and we wouldn’t be able to solve it at once, doing it little by little is a better option. At least this way, we are not overwhelmed by the size or gravity of the problem.
343.Your own dull machete is better than your neighbor's sharp one. It is best to appreciate one’s own than another. At least we know what is ours. We know the weaknesses and strengths, unlike with that of another person.
book by the author
Liberian Public Administration System: An Introduction,
The Liberian Administrative System: The Legislature,
Famous Liberian Folklore
Basis of Banking; The Liberian Financial System
Proverbs from Liberia
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The author is a Liberian, educator, folklorist and public speaker. He began writing poems at quite an early age. His love for Liberian literature increased as he grew and learned more about Liberian culture from his Grandmother.
At the urging of his parents, he was encouraged to explore his passion, which has led him on a fascinating journey throughout Liberia. He is regarded amongst the foremost modern day Liberian literary writers.
His works have been published widely in academic setting and numerous social media. He is also an active social commentator. He speaks at conferences and other academic fora and heads the Liberian Think Tank, Think Liberia- Everything Liberia. They are currently undertaking a project to create the largest free online Liberian database.
He resides in Asia, with his family.
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