Rodgers Dictionary of Proverbs
A man who is patient is rewarded.
A man who is putting on his armor for war
should not boast like a man who is
taking it off.
A man who is putting on his armour for
war should not boast like a man who’s
taking it off.
A man who is trampled to death by an
elephant is a man who is blind and deaf.
A man who lets his problems get the better
of him is like a man who divorces his
wife the first time she makes him angry.
A man who lives alone is either always
overworked, or always overfed.
A man who lives on the bank of a river does
not use spittle to wash his hands.
A man who lives on the banks of the Niger
should not wash his hands with spittle.
A man who marries an outcast is like rain
wasted in the forest.
A man who never recognises his mistakes
will never know peace.
A man who pays respect to the great paves
the way for his own greatness.
A man who prides himself on his ancestry
is like the potato plant, the best part of
which is underground.
A man who rushes into battle does not real-
ize that battle entails death.
A man who seeks a perfect friend, will
remain friendless.
A man who shoots his arrows as he makes
them does not realize when he has shot
a whole sheaf.
A man who smiles when he’s been robbed
has stolen something from the thief.
A man who speaks ill of an absent friend, or
fails to take his part if attacked by
another, is a scoundrel.
A man who touches the bottom of a soup
plate with a ball of foofoo is no longer
searching for soup.
A man who uses force is afraid of
reasoning.
A man who walks alone carries a load of
palm-fronds.
A man who wants bread is ready for
47
anything.
A man who wants to drown his dog says he
is mad.
A man who was always complaining was
quite rightly sent to hell. “Why are you
burning damp wood?” was his first
comment.
A man who will go mad next year starts to
roll up his sleeves this year.
A man will never heed the voice of a
woman until it is too late.
A man will sacrifice his head to conquer a
heart.
A man will scratch if he has fleas.
A man will show his true colours in
adversity.
A man with a cough can never conceal him-
self.
A man with a cross eye shall be put to the
torch.
A man with a good will is not only rich but
also wise.
A man with a loud laugh makes truth itself
seem folly, truth is great and will win
out.
A man with a missing tooth does not eat
ugiri with relish.
A man with a sense of humor is never at a
loss for words or action.
A man with a skinny wife is a deceitful
man.
A man with a sour face should not open a
shop.
A man with a watch knows what time it is.
A man with two watches is never sure.
A man with good judgment does not make
the goat his gardener.
A man with little learning is like the frog
who thinks its pond is an ocean.
A man with too much ambition cannot
sleep in peace.
A man with trousers that are too short
should wear long suspenders.
A man with two ears can be supported by
two words.