Rodgers Dictionary of Proverbs
Idleness is the mother of all vices.
Idleness is the root of all evil.
Idleness is the sepulchre of a living man.
Idleness is to be dead at the limbs but alive
within.
Idleness moves so slowly that it will be
overtaken by misery.
Idleness ruins the constitution.
If "How are you?" cost a cent, few would
hear it.
If a baby crawls up to me and pinches me, I
will get on my knees and pinch him
back.
If a bachelor who uses firewood for cooking
runs away in the morning to avoid
removing the ash; he will have to deal
with it when he comes back.
If a bamboo tube makes a loud sound, it is
empty.
If a beard were all, the goat would be the
winner.
If a bird bills the rock then it trusts its beck.
If a bird does not recognise a tree, it will not
rest on it.
If a bird knew how poor he was it wouldn't
sing so beautifully.
If a blind man leads another, they both fall
together.
If a blind man says lets throw stones, be
assured that he has stepped on one.
If a blind man says, "Let's throw stones," be
assured that he has stepped on one.
If a caged bird isn't singing for love, it's
singing in a rage.
If a cat had a dowry, she would often be
kissed.
If a cat wants to eat her kittens, she'll say
that they look like mice.
If a cat wants to look after your fish don't
believe him.
If a centipede loses a leg, it can still walk.
If a centipede loses a leg, it does not prevent
him from walking.
If a centipede loses a leg, it does not prevent
him from walking.
If a child cries for a bone, give him that
bone. (If people are unwilling to listen to
299
your advice, let them learn with
experience.)
If a child is not well-behaved, she is not sent
by the mother to go alone to the market
to buy things for her.
If a child shoots an arrow that reaches the
top of a tall palm tree, then it must be
that an elderly person carved the arrow
for him.
If a child washes his hands he could eat with
kings.
If a child's hands are clean, he can eat with
elders.
If a Dane first has come into the room, more
Danes will probably follow.
If a dead tree falls, it carries with it a live
one.
If a dog bites you and you don't bite him
back, it will say that you have no teeth.
If a dog bites you once it's his fault, but if it
bites you again it's your fault.
If a dog bites you, you don't attack it but
you attack its owner.
If a dog is driven by a stick after a hare, he
will not catch it.
If a dog is to be killed, it is said to be mad.
If a dog offers to help you across the river,
don't ask if he is suffering from the
mange.
If a dog’s prayers were answered, bones
would rain from the sky.
If a donkey kicks you and you kick back,
you are both donkeys.
If a drum is not made, it is the fault of the
master; but if the drum is made and is
not beaten, then that is the fault of the
boys.
If a father does not cultivate, the son does
not inherit land.
If you want to improve your memory, lend
someone money.
If a father eats a lot of salt, his children will
be thirsty.
If a flea had money, it would buy its own
dog.