proverbs

Encouragement
164. Aw naaru-góor lu mu mëna mëna daw ñu bàcc ko ab yar. (2,6)
Fasu naaru-góor, lu mu mën-a-mën daw ñu làbbili ko. (3)
Lu naaru-góor gaaw-gaaw, fàww ñu làbbali ko. (19)
A thoroughbred racing horse, no matter how fast it can already run, is still whipped
with a riding crop.
A little word of encouragement is needed sometimes even for the most valiant. One should
not let a person rest on their laurels; that is to say, to stop trying because of what they have
already achieved.
Environment
165. Doomi mbott, ndox du ko rey. (2,18,19)
Water will not kill a tadpole.
When one has adjusted to living in a particular environment or a certain place, one learns
how to avoid the dangers of that place. Like the tadpole each person has a place where he
is secure and at home.
This proverb could be used by a policeman to reassure his wife that he does not take large
risks when he frequents the haunts of criminals in the course of his work.
Envy
166. Joori waay bu mu la tax a sànni say sagar. (19)
Jooru waay du ma taxa wocc samay sagar. (20)
Joori waay, bu mu tax nga sànni say sagar. (17)
Seeing the beautiful clothes of someone else is not a reason to throw away your
own rags.
Never throw away your own clothes because of the beauty of someone else's. Be admiring
of someone else's wealth or belongings but value what you own.
167. Kiñaan fanqul muur, Yàllaay maye. (2,20)
Añaan fankul muur Yàlla moo la may. (19)
Jealousy cannot hinder the destiny which God gives you.
Evidence
168. Ku gis nen ne nen-a ngi, waxatumala-ak nenu baa. (15)
Whoever sees an egg says, “Here is an egg”, to say nothing of an ostrich egg.
One needs to face facts.
Evil
169. Néegu mbon, ku nekk dana ca fanaan, wànte biddantee ca amul njariñ. (2)
Everyone will pass a night in the room of evil, but there is no value in sleeping in
late in it.
“You can't stop a crow flying over your head, but you can stop him making a nest in your
hair.”
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