Read by the tongue
4 Swahili proverbs read closely — filed under Effort, Caution, Humanism and 3 others; set beside cousins in Mandarin, Italian, Spanish, Japanese and 7 others.
Simba mwenda kimya ndiye mla nyama.
simba mwenda kimya ndiye mla nyama
A Swahili proverb says the silent lion is the one that eats. An Italian road, a Spanish shrimp, and a Japanese stone complete the thought from three directions.
Umoja ni nguvu, utengano ni udhaifu
umoja ni nguvu, utengano ni udhaifu
Why Swahili says unity is strength and division is weakness — and how Mongolian magpies, an Aesopic bundle, and a Mandarin rampart make the same claim in three very different temperaments.
Mzee wa kazi haitwi mtoto.
mzee wa kazi haitwi mtoto
Why the Swahili coast says an elder of work is not called a child — and how Yoruba clean hands, a Chinese old horse, and an English grandmother circle the same earned authority.
Haraka haraka haina baraka
haraka haraka haina baraka
Why a Swahili proverb against haste is built from a Bantu doubling and an Arabic loanword — and how the same caution surfaces in Hadith, in Confucius, and on the Russian road, each tradition naming a different reason not to hurry.
An elder of work is not called a child.
Mzee wa kazi haitwi mtoto.
Literally: Elder of work is-not-called child.
Swahili · Tanzania / Kenya
Set beside
Haraka haraka haina baraka
Literally: Hurry hurry not-has blessing
Swahili · Tanzania
Set beside
It is the quiet one, moving with purpose, who achieves.
Simba mwenda kimya ndiye mla nyama.
Literally: The lion that walks silently is the one that eats meat.
Swahili · Kenya
Set beside
Together we are strong; apart we are weak.
Umoja ni nguvu, utengano ni udhaifu
Literally: Unity is strength, division is weakness.
Swahili · Tanzania
Set beside
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