PROVERBS

Nigerian Proverbs

1. "Give me a push from my back" does not mean give me a hunchback.

2. "Now the marriage begins," says the woman who has been beaten with thorns.

3. A bag that says it will not take more, and a traditional doctor who says he would not leave anything behind are both sure to suffer.. Nigerian Proverb. A bag that says it will not take more, and a traditional doctor who says he would not leave anything behind are both sure to suffer.

4. A bird does not change its feathers because the weather is bad.. Nigerian Proverb. A bird does not change its feathers because the weather is bad.

5. A bird that flies from the ground onto an anthill, does not know that it is still on the ground.. Nigerian Proverb. A bird that flies from the ground onto an anthill, does not know that it is still on the ground.

6. A bottle of oil warmed over the fire has no means of producing oil by itself.. Nigerian Proverb. A bottle of oil warmed over the fire has no means of producing oil by itself.

7. A bush fowls' playground is never appreciably spacious.. Nigerian Proverb. A bush fowls' playground is never appreciably spacious.

8. A child does not die because the mother's breasts are dry.. Nigerian Proverb. A child does not die because the mother's breasts are dry.

9. A child is what you put into him.. Nigerian Proverb. A child is what you put into him.

10. A child who fears beating, would never admit that he played with a missing knife.. Nigerian Proverb. A child who fears beating, would never admit that he played with a missing knife.


11. A child who has no mother will not have scars to show on his back.. Nigerian Proverb. A child who has no mother will not have scars to show on his back.

12. A child who is carried on the back will not know how far the journey is.. Nigerian Proverb. A child who is carried on the back will not know how far the journey is.

13. A child's face is his mirror.. Nigerian Proverb. A child's face is his mirror.

14. A clay pot of water is never hot-tempered.. Nigerian Proverb. A clay pot of water is never hot-tempered.

15. A crowd is like a smoldering log which can spark into a flame at any time.. Nigerian Proverb. A crowd is like a smoldering log which can spark into a flame at any time.

16. A diviner cannot accurately divine his own future.. Nigerian Proverb. A diviner cannot accurately divine his own future.

17. A family name is not cooked and eaten, one's life is the thing.. Nigerian Proverb. A family name is not cooked and eaten, one's life is the thing.

18. A farmer does not boast that he has had a good harvest until his stock of yams lasts till the following harvest season.. Nigerian Proverb. A farmer does not boast that he has had a good harvest until his stock of yams lasts till the following harvest season.

19. A farmer does not conclude by the mere look of it that a corn is unripe; he tears it open for examination.. Nigerian Proverb. A farmer does not conclude by the mere look of it that a corn is unripe; he tears it open for examination.

20. A farmer who would not work inside the rain and would not work under the sun, would have nothing to harvest at the end of the farming year.. Nigerian Proverb. A farmer who would not work inside the rain and would not work under the sun, would have nothing to harvest at the end of the farming year.


21. A fight between grasshoppers is a joy to the crow.. Nigerian Proverb. A fight between grasshoppers is a joy to the crow.

22. A fowl does not forget where it lays it eggs.. Nigerian Proverb. A fowl does not forget where it lays it eggs.

23. A friendly person is never a good-for-nothing.. Nigerian Proverb. A friendly person is never a good-for-nothing.

24. A glorious past is the work of a glorious man.. Nigerian Proverb. A glorious past is the work of a glorious man.

25. A goat owned by two people sleeps outside.. Nigerian Proverb. A goat owned by two people sleeps outside.

26. A good name is better than gold.. Nigerian Proverb. A good name is better than gold.

27. A herbalist that refuses to ask laymen what leaves he looks for in the bush, must have difficulties getting what he wants.. Nigerian Proverb. A herbalist that refuses to ask laymen what leaves he looks for in the bush, must have difficulties getting what he wants.

28. A housewife who complains that there is not enough foodstuff in the market should remember that if her husband adds to what is already available, there would be more for everyone.. Nigerian Proverb. A housewife who complains that there is not enough foodstuff in the market should remember that if her husband adds to what is already available, there would be more for everyone.

29. A hunter who has only one arrow does not shoot with careless aim.. Nigerian Proverb. A hunter who has only one arrow does not shoot with careless aim.

30. A laughing jackal portends a witch in the rafters.. Nigerian Proverb. A laughing jackal portends a witch in the rafters.

31. A lizard that fell from the top of a tree wastes its time looking back to where it fell from; if there was anything good the lizard deserved, it could not have missed it while it was there on top of the tree.. Nigerian Proverb. A lizard that fell from the top of a tree wastes its time looking back to where it fell from; if there was anything good the lizard deserved, it could not have missed it while it was there on top of the tree.

32. A lounging lizard catches no crickets.. Nigerian Proverb. A lounging lizard catches no crickets.

33. A man can not sit down alone to plan for prosperity.. Nigerian Proverb. A man can not sit down alone to plan for prosperity.

34. A man does not wander far from where his corn is roasting.. Nigerian Proverb. A man does not wander far from where his corn is roasting.

35. A man that begets a barren cannot have a grand child.. Nigerian Proverb. A man that begets a barren cannot have a grand child.

36. A man who eases himself in public, gives cause to others to despise him.. Nigerian Proverb. A man who eases himself in public, gives cause to others to despise him.

37. A man who has one finger pointing at another has three pointing towards himself.. Nigerian Proverb. A man who has one finger pointing at another has three pointing towards himself.

38. A man who is advised and he takes it, is still a man who acts from his own free will.. Nigerian Proverb. A man who is advised and he takes it, is still a man who acts from his own free will.

39. A man who is trampled to death by an elephant is a man who is blind and deaf.. Nigerian Proverb. A man who is trampled to death by an elephant is a man who is blind and deaf.

40. A man who lives alone is either always overworked, or always overfed.. Nigerian Proverb. A man who lives alone is either always overworked, or always overfed.

41. A man who lives on the bank of a river does not use spittle to wash his hands.. Nigerian Proverb. A man who lives on the bank of a river does not use spittle to wash his hands.

42. A man who walks alone carries a load of palm-fronds.. Nigerian Proverb. A man who walks alone carries a load of palm-fronds.

43. A masquerade does not perform to an outside audience until he performs well at the home base.. Nigerian Proverb. A masquerade does not perform to an outside audience until he performs well at the home base.

44. A masquerade is not a spirit only because of its mask.. Nigerian Proverb. A masquerade is not a spirit only because of its mask.

45. A mother is gold, a father is a mirror.. Nigerian Proverb. A mother is gold, a father is a mirror.

46. A mouse that removes the palm-nut that turns out to be the bait of a trap, would already have known that the palm-nut does not ripen on the ground.. Nigerian Proverb. A mouse that removes the palm-nut that turns out to be the bait of a trap, would already have known that the palm-nut does not ripen on the ground.

47. A one-eyed person does not thank god until he meets a blind person at prayer.. Nigerian Proverb. A one-eyed person does not thank god until he meets a blind person at prayer.

48. A pad that breaks a pot of water does not remain on the head.. Nigerian Proverb. A pad that breaks a pot of water does not remain on the head.

49. A performing masquerade who tries too hard to outclass his colleagues may expose his anus.. Nigerian Proverb. A performing masquerade who tries too hard to outclass his colleagues may expose his anus.

50. A person always breaking off from work never finishes anything.. Nigerian Proverb. A person always breaking off from work never finishes anything.