Liberian Literary Magazine Promoting Liberian Literature , Arts and Culture
Liberian Proverbs
o Fly was living before dog ear cut .
o Monkey works , baboon draws . o
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Only a fool jumps from the pot into a frying pan and thinks it is colder .
A dog that makes sacrifices for its maters , never goes hungry . o
The walkabout child can ’ t see their mother ’ s grave . o Do not look where you fell , instead , look where you slipped . o A snake cannot give birth to a worm .
o A lizard cannot give birth to alligator .
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Rotten banana can break an old lady ’ s teeth if her fortune turns .
o A Goat cannot sell cassava leaf .
o A monkey cannot sell bananas . o
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A child that washes his / her hands clean , he could eat with the elders .
A wise man does not test the depth of a river with both of his feet at the same time .
When a crazy persons runs away with your clothes while you are in the bathroom , don ' t run after him / her naked .
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The lion is not the best person to safe guard a bush meat . |
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A bird and a fish can get marry but where will they live ? |
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The turtle wants to box , but it ’ s hands are too short . |
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You should never play in the river and tease the alligator . |
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A billy goat sweats , but because of the hair , people can ’ t see it .
Through the crab , the crawfish drinks water . o
For the deer to circumcise leopard is not the thing , but who will hold it down ?
o Little drops make a mighty ocean . o A town trap is not for the rat alone .
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A child ' s that says the mother won ’ t sleep , will also not sleep . o
If you don ' t know where you came from , how can you know where you are going ?
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An old woman is always uneasy when dry bones are mentioned in a proverb . |
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A hen that turns it behind ( butt ) to the wind , is certainly looking for disgrace . |
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o o
A person who pays respect to the great paves the way for his / her own greatness .
A monkey that decides to play with an alligator , can ’ t live long .
Excerpted from Proverbs From Liberia o
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The hen that never stays at home can ’ t expect her chicks to be safe . .
A visitor is a guest only for two days . On the third day give him or her a hoe .
Education is like an ocean , it has no end .
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