Rodgers Dictionary of Proverbs
When you lose friends, you go down many
steps.
When you lose on the drum-beating if the
gods, you lose on the rhythm and pace of
life.
When you lose the rhythm of the drumbeat
of God, you are lost from the peace and
rhythm of life.
When you meet a man, you judge him by
his clothes; when you leave, you judge
him by his heart.
When you mention a snake, have a stick
ready in your hand.
When you mention 'dog,' you should get a
stick.
When you open a door, don't forget to close
it. Treat your mouth accordingly.
When you persuade, speak of interest, not of
reason.
When you plant a yam it produces another
yam.
When you play the flute in Zanzibar all
Africa dances.
When you play with a lion, do not put your
hand in its mouth.
When you play, you may break your head.
When you point your finger at someone,
look where the other fingers point.
When you pull the tooth, it will stop
hurting.
When you put your nose into the water your
cheeks get wet as well.
When you raise a leopard, you shouldn't be
upset when it eats your goat.
When you reach the top, keep climbing.
When you reject gifts from heaven you will
be rewarded in hell.
When you rely too much on reason, you end
up not relying enough on feeling.
When you remove the pack-saddle the sores
become visible.
When you return from a trip, bring back
something for your family -- even if it is
only a stone.
When you run alone, you run fast. When
you run together, you run far.
When you say one thing, the clever person
711
understands three.
When you see a goat you should always hit
him, because he is either going into
mischief or coming out of it.
When you see a palm tree, the palm tree has
seen you.
When you see a rat running in a fire then
what it's running away from is hotter
than fire.
When you see a sheep's wool sky you know,
if it doesn't rain today, it will rain in the
morning.
When you see a snake, never mind where he
came from.
When you see a turtle on top of a fence post,
you know he had some help.
When you see clouds gathering, prepare to
catch rainwater.
When you see gossamer flying, be sure the
air is drying.
When you see many dogs at a bone, it's best
to make yourself scarce.
When you see that it's going astray, take the
mule by the reins.
When you see that someone is cutting your
neighbor's beard, start wetting yours.
When you see the gossaner flying, be sure
the air is drying.
When you see the wolf, do not look for his
track.
When you shoot a zebra in the black stripe,
the white dies too; shoot it in the white
and the black dies too.
When you shoot an arrow of truth, dip its
point in honey.
When you show the moon to a child, it sees
only your finger.
When you sleep in a house your thoughts
are as high as the ceiling, when you sleep
outside they are as high as the stars.
When you smile at someone, you do
yourself a favor.
When you speak, know that which can be
brought against you.
When you spit against the wind you get a
dirty beard.