Rodgers Dictionary of Proverbs
When the judge's mule dies, everyone goes
to the funeral; when the judge himself
dies, no one does.
When the king reigns it is thanks to the
people; when a river sings it's thanks to
the stones.
When the kitchenmaids are together, the
roast burns.
When the laborer is praised, his cutlass
begins to cut more keenly.
When the lamps in the house are lit, it is like
the flowering of lotus on the lake.
When the last tree has been cut down, the
last river has been polluted and the last
fish has been caught -- only then do you
realize that money can't buy everything.
When the leg does not walk, the stomach
does not eat.
When the leopard has a broken paw, the
antellope comes to collect an old debt.
When the leopard is away, his cubs are
eaten.
When the light is crooked, the shadow is
crooked.
When the lion gets old, even flies attack him.
When the lion is dead the hares jump upon
his carcase.
When the lion's skin falls short, piece it out
with that of the fox.
When the liquor was gone, the fun was
gone.
When the lords come out of the council-
house, they are wiser than when they
went in.
When the man is away, the monkey eats his
corn and goes into his hut.
When the manger is empty the horses fight.
When the mantis hunts the locust, he forgets
the shrike that's hunting him.
When the master has a cold, the servants
sneeze.
When the master hurts his foot the servants
limp.
When the master is absent, the frogs hop in-
to the house.
When the master is away, the frogs hop in.
When the master of the house tells a lie, then
702
offer him a chair.
When the measure is full, it runs over.
When the mice laugh at the cat, there is a
hole nearby.
When the miller is also the mayor, there are
two thieves in one pair of trousers.
When the millers are making an uproar, do
you tie up your sacks.
When the money starts to glitter and clink,
even a Mullah will leave the mosque.
When the monkey can't reach the ripe
banana with his hand, he says it is not
sweet.
When the moon is full, it begins to wane.
When the moon is not full, the stars shine
more brightly.
When the moon is pale, it will rain; when it's
red, it will be windy and when it's clear,
it will be serene.
When the moon is shining the cripple
becomes hungry for a walk.
When the mother dies the father becomes an
uncle.
When the mother dies, the house dies.
When the mother goat breaks into the yam
store her kid watches her.
When the mother monkey leaves her baby
to fall, one must not blame the dried
branch.
When the mouse has had its fill, the meal
turns bitter.
When the mouse is full, the flour tastes
bitter.
When the mouse is satisfied, the flour is
bitter.
When the mouse laughs at the cat, there is a
hole nearby.
When the mouth stumbles, it is worse than
the foot.
When the music changes, so does the dance.
When the music changes, then the rhythm
of the dance must change also.
When the music stops, a deaf person
continues to dance.
When the next house is on fire, 'tis high time
to look to your own.