40 African-American Proverbs And Their Meanings You Didn’t Know

40 African-American Proverbs And Their Meanings You Didn’t Know

by Joseph Anthony
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1. A cockroach cannot boast before the cock. Meaning: Everything knows its worth (limitation)


2. The chameleon says it believes in unity that is why it co-operate with any colour it comes in contact with. Meaning: When  you associate with different persons, you will have different experience and make you to struggle to get to the greater height.

3. The lizard that nod it’s head for the down fall of it’s colleagues will die of stiff neck. Meaning: He that plan evil will reap evil.

4. That the tiger prows along quietly does not mean it is timid. Meaning: Stop judging people by their faces because, you do not know their inner mind.

5. A needle is small but it draws blood when you step on it. Meaning: Do not judge thing/people by their sizes because some things appear small but they are dangerous.


6. If the sun says it has power over the moon let it come and shine in the night. Meaning: Everything has it’s area of important.

7. The monkey that wants to see the hunter’s face will one day receive a bullet in it’s face. Meaning: Avoid trouble as soon as you sense it.

8. New broom sweeps clean but, old one knows the corners. Meaning: Experience is the best teacher.

9. If you are a man and you can not cater for yourself do not bother to have a wife. Meaning: Do not venture the responsibility you can not bear.

10. A monkey woke up one early morning and saw that all the trees in the forest have fallen, the monkey said one day the herbs will grow. Meaning: Encourage yourself in the time of difficulties.


11. Nobody can lock door against smoke. Meaning: No secret is secret.

12.He that eats eggs does not know that hen pass through pains before laying the eggs. Meaning: People do not regard what they don’t Labour for, only the wise ones do.

13. Procrastination is a grave in which opportunities is buried. Meaning: Many people have miss their chance of success because of postponement.

14. Wills made by the dead are changed by the living. Meaning: Situation cannot remain the same for ever, they are bound to be changed.

15.The old age of Methuselah has nothing ti do with the wisdom of Solomon. Meaning: Age doesn’t determine maturity.


16. Rome was not built in a day and all the builders were not Roman. Meaning: Wealth cannot be acquired in a day.

17. The axe that contends with the rock for battle will face a blunt edge. Meaning: Any creature that tries to outweigh the creator will be brought totally to ruin.

18. Penny wise, pound foolish. Meaning: In sparing small things, you might lose big things.

19. A wilful waste of time gives woeful end. Meaning: A time not properly utilised results in bad ends.

20. The ruins of a land and its people begins in their homes. Meaning: Bad character generates due to lack of home training.


21. Only a fool tests the depth of a river with both feet.

Meaning: You donโ€™t jump straight into a situation without thinking about it first.

22. Knowledge is like a garden: If it is not cultivated, it cannot be harvested.

Meaning: If you donโ€™t make efforts to acquire knowledge then you would not expect to have it and if you do not put the knowledge you have to use, you cannot expect to gain anything from it.

23. Sugarcane is sweetest at its joint.

Meaning: Good and sweet things of live may appear difficult to achieve but in the end, it is worth it.

24. If you offend, ask for a pardon; if offended forgive.

Meaning: This is as simple as it sounds: If you upset someone, apologize to him or her. If someone upsets you, forgive him or her because what goes around, comes around.

25. Donโ€™t set sail using someone elseโ€™s star.


Meaning: Avoid copying someone else. Just because someone has been successful in what he/she does should not be what will make you to do the same thing and expect to be successful.

26. The best way to eat an elephant in your path is cut him up into little pieces.

Meaning: The best approach to solving a problem is to take it bit by bit; one at a time.

27. A restless feet may walk into a snake pit.

Meaning: If someone is busy doing nothing or is involved in what he does noe know about, it is easy for him to get into trouble.

28. A chick that will grow into a cock can be spotted the very day it hatches.

Meaning: You can easily foresee the future of something through the character and tell-tale signs it exhibits today.

29. After a foolish deed comes remorse.

Meaning: Feeling sorry always follows a foolish act.

30. A man who pays respect to the great paves the way for his own greatness.


Meaning: What goes around, comes around so whatever you sow, you shall reap

31. He who does not know one thing knows another.

Meaning: No one knows everything, but everyone knows something.

32. A roaring lion kills no game.

Meaning: You cannot achieve or gain anything by mere sitting around and just talking about it.

33. Do not call the forest that shelters you a jungle.

Meaning: Do not insult someone who is capable of taking your responsibility or taking care of you

34. When a king has good counselors, his reign is peaceful.

Meaning: What defines a man is the circumstances and people around him and if they are good, he turns out good.

35. It takes a whole village to raise a child.


Meaning: The society is responsible for the moral characters it creates and everyone in a community should be responsible for helping to train a child irrespective of who the parents are; offering correction where they are needed.

36. If a child washes his hands he could eat with kings.

Meaning: If you prepare and allow yourself to be well trained when you have the opportunity, you will achieve a lot and be favored in due course.

 37. Rain does not fall on one roof alone. Meaning: Trouble comes to everyone at one time or another.

38. Life is like a shadow and a mist; it passes quickly by, and is no more.


Meaning: Life is short, and you only live it once.

39. Wherever a man goes to dwell, his character goes with him. Meaning: What defines a man is his character which is inseparable from him and follows him wherever he goes.

40. Do not look where you fell, but where you slipped. Meaning: Donโ€™t look at your mistakes; look at what caused you to make the mistakes otherwise you may repeat the mistake.

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