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88 African Proverbs and Sayings (WISDOM)

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Top 11 Most Famous African Proverbs and Sayings (BEST)

If you think you’re too small to make a difference, try spending the night with a mosquito.
If you think you’re too small to make a difference, try spending the night with a mosquito.
We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.
We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.
When the roots are deep, there is no reason to fear the wind.
When the roots are deep, there is no reason to fear the wind.
It is better to live as a lion for one day rather than 100 years as a sheep.
It is better to live as a lion for one day rather than 100 years as a sheep.
God has created lands with lakes and rivers for man to live. And the desert so that he can find his soul.
God has created lands with lakes and rivers for man to live. And the desert so that he can find his soul.
The strength of the crocodile is in the water – people can be very strong in their right environment.
The strength of the crocodile is in the water – people can be very strong in their right environment.
A cutting word is worse than a bowstring, a cut may heal, but the cut of the tongue does not.
A cutting word is worse than a bowstring, a cut may heal, but the cut of the tongue does not.
He that beats the drum for the mad man to dance is no better than the mad man himself.
He that beats the drum for the mad man to dance is no better than the mad man himself. 
Examine what is said, not who is speaking.
Examine what is said, not who is speaking.
A bird that flies off the Earth and lands on an anthill is still on the ground.
A bird that flies off the Earth and lands on an anthill is still on the ground.
Knowledge is a garden. If it isn’t cultivated, you can’t harvest it.
Knowledge is a garden. If it isn’t cultivated, you can’t harvest it.

17 African Proverbs About Life (INSPIRATIONAL)

Tomorrow belongs to people who prepare for it today.
Tomorrow belongs to people who prepare for it today.
He who runs after good fortune runs away from peace.
He who runs after good fortune runs away from peace. 
If you want to know the end, look at the beginning.
If you want to know the end, look at the beginning.
However long the night, the dawn will break.
However long the night, the dawn will break.
Trouble does not discriminate. It comes to everyone at some point.
Trouble does not discriminate. It comes to everyone at some point.
No person is born great. Great people become great when others are sleeping.
No person is born great. Great people become great when others are sleeping.
Not everyone who chased the zebra caught it, but he who caught it, chased it.
Not everyone who chased the zebra caught it, but he who caught it, chased it.
Even the lion protects himself against flies.
Even the lion protects himself against flies.
Once you carry your own water, you’ll remember every drop.
Once you carry your own water, you’ll remember every drop.
To try and fail is not laziness.
To try and fail is not laziness.
Being happy is better than being king.
Being happy is better than being king.
He who refuses to obey cannot command.
He who refuses to obey cannot command.
When a needle falls into a deep well, many people will look into the well, but few will be ready to go down after it.
When a needle falls into a deep well, many people will look into the well, but few will be ready to go down after it.
A person with too much ambition cannot sleep in peace.
A person with too much ambition cannot sleep in peace.
The eye never forgets what the heart has seen.
The eye never forgets what the heart has seen.
Ugliness with a good character is better than beauty.
Ugliness with a good character is better than beauty.
A man who pays respect to the great paves his own way for greatness.
A man who pays respect to the great paves his own way for greatness.

7 African Proverbs on Trees and Monkeys

When you marry a monkey for his wealth, the money goes but the monkey remains.
When you marry a monkey for his wealth, the money goes but the monkey remains.
There are no shortcuts to the top of the palm tree.
There are no shortcuts to the top of the palm tree.
All monkeys cannot hang from the same branch.
All monkeys cannot hang from the same branch.
If you climb up a tree, you must climb down the same tree.
If you climb up a tree, you must climb down the same tree.
The axe forgets but the tree remembers.
The axe forgets but the tree remembers.
If money were to be found up in the trees, most people would be married to monkeys.
If money were to be found up in the trees, most people would be married to monkeys.
A family tie is like a tree, it can bend but it cannot break.
A family tie is like a tree, it can bend but it cannot break.

4 African Proverbs on Peace and Unity

When two elephants fight, it is the grass that gets hurt.
When two elephants fight, it is the grass that gets hurt.
He who digs a grave for his enemy might as well be digging one for himself.
He who digs a grave for his enemy might as well be digging one for himself.
No medicine exists that can cure hatred.
No medicine exists that can cure hatred.
If there is no enemy within, the enemy outside can do no harm.
If there is no enemy within, the enemy outside can do no harm.

10 Inspirational African Proverbs About Family

A family is like a forest, when you are outside it is dense, when you are inside you see that each tree has its place.
A family is like a forest, when you are outside it is dense, when you are inside you see that each tree has its place.
If I am in harmony with my family, that’s success.
If I am in harmony with my family, that’s success.
If you educate a man, you educate one person. If you educate a woman, you educate a whole family.
If you educate a man, you educate one person. If you educate a woman, you educate a whole family.
A woman is a flower in a garden; her husband is the fence around it.
A woman is a flower in a garden; her husband is the fence around it.
A home without a woman is like a barn without cattle.
A home without a woman is like a barn without cattle.
A husband with a good wife will never be on the road without supplies.
A husband with a good wife will never be on the road without supplies.
If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.
If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.
Brothers love each other when they are equally rich.
Brothers love each other when they are equally rich.
When brothers fight to the death, a stranger inherits their father’s estate.
When brothers fight to the death, a stranger inherits their father’s estate.
Family must look out for family.
Family must look out for family.

20 Wise African Proverbs that will Make You Think

Don’t think there are no crocodiles just because the water is calm.
Don’t think there are no crocodiles just because the water is calm.
If you heal the leg of a person, do not be surprised if they use it to run away.
If you heal the leg of a person, do not be surprised if they use it to run away.
Seeing is different than being told.
Seeing is different than being told.
Rain may clean the leopards skin but it does not wash out the spots.
Rain may clean the leopards skin but it does not wash out the spots.
If you are filled with pride, then you will have no room for wisdom.
If you are filled with pride, then you will have no room for wisdom.
However far a stream flows, it doesn’t forget its origin.
However far a stream flows, it doesn’t forget its origin.
Give advice, if people don’t listen let adversity teach them.
Give advice, if people don’t listen let adversity teach them.
The earth is a beehive, we all enter by the same door.
The earth is a beehive, we all enter by the same door.
No matter how hot your anger is it cannot cook yams.
No matter how hot your anger is it cannot cook yams.
Knowledge without wisdom is like water in the sand.
Knowledge without wisdom is like water in the sand.
Lack of knowledge is darker than night.
Lack of knowledge is darker than night.
To get lost is to learn the way.
To get lost is to learn the way.
If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem.
If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.
When an old man dies, a library is burned with him.
When an old man dies, a library is burned with him.
In the moment of crisis, the wise build bridges, and the foolish build dams.
In the moment of crisis, the wise build bridges, and the foolish build dams.
Don’t set sail on someone else’s star. One falsehood spoils a thousand truths.
Don’t set sail on someone else’s star. One falsehood spoils a thousand truths.
Wisdom is like a baobab tree; no one individual can embrace it.
Wisdom is like a baobab tree; no one individual can embrace it.
The wise man never takes a step too long for his leg.
The wise man never takes a step too long for his leg.
One day in the life of a wise man is worth a fool’s entire life.
One day in the life of a wise man is worth a fool’s entire life.
If you damage the character of another, you damage your own.
If you damage the character of another, you damage your own.

19 African Proverbs About Love

Truth should be in love and love in truth.
Truth should be in love and love in truth.
It is better to be loved than to be feared.
It is better to be loved than to be feared.
Every kind of love is love, but self-love is supreme among them.
Every kind of love is love, but self-love is supreme among them.
To love someone who doesn’t love you is like shaking a tree to make the dew drops fall.
To love someone who doesn’t love you is like shaking a tree to make the dew drops fall.
He who loves, loves you with your dirt.
He who loves, loves you with your dirt.
One who marries for love alone will have bad days but good nights.
One who marries for love alone will have bad days but good nights.
When one is in love, a cliff becomes a meadow.
When one is in love, a cliff becomes a meadow.
Don’t be so in love that you can’t tell when it’s raining.
Don’t be so in love that you can’t tell when it’s raining.
If love is a sickness, patience is the remedy.
If love is a sickness, patience is the remedy.
Love, like rain, does not choose the grass on which it falls.
Love, like rain, does not choose the grass on which it falls.
Love for something makes a man blind and deaf.
Love for something makes a man blind and deaf.
The quarrel of lovers is the renewal of love.
The quarrel of lovers is the renewal of love.
A happy man marries the girl he loves; a happier man loves the girl he married.
A happy man marries the girl he loves; a happier man loves the girl he married.
One who loves the vase, loves also what is inside.
One who loves the vase, loves also what is inside.
Let your love be like the misty rain, coming softly but flooding the river.
Let your love be like the misty rain, coming softly but flooding the river.
If a woman doesn’t love you, she calls you 'brother.'
If a woman doesn’t love you, she calls you ‘brother.’
Don’t try to make someone hate the person he loves. For he will go on loving but he will hate you.
Don’t try to make someone hate the person he loves. For he will go on loving but he will hate you.
A fish and bird may fall in love but the two cannot build a home together.
A fish and bird may fall in love but the two cannot build a home together.
It’s better to fall from a tree and break your back than to fall in love and break your heart.
It’s better to fall from a tree and break your back than to fall in love and break your heart.

(MUST READ) The Book of African Proverbs

The Book of African proverbs
The Book of African proverbs

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African Proverbs and Sayings (WISDOM) - Gracious Quotes