Proverbs (Thimo)

Goodness begin at home

Meaning: Means charity begins at home.

A little , contemptible path is sometimes the one that leads you to the highway.

Meaning: Little strokes fell great oaks.

The food that is in the mouth is not yet in the belly.

Meaning:

The Kikuyu know how to conceal their quiver, but do not know how to conceal their secrets.

Meaning: The kikuyu, though very clever in concealing their arms, cannot keep secrets from the members of their tribe.

Wives and oxen have no friends.

Meaning: There are things which are not be given to friends .

When there is shortage of figs, birds eat the fruits of the muguma.

Meaning: The tree called mugumo by the natives bears little fruits that are not eaten by birds when there is plenty of other food.

The forest of an unpleasant person is the one that has trees.

Meaning: The proverb means that evil -doers often do prosper.

"You cannot make an appointment with death".

Meaning: It means that death is unpredictable, and no one can schedule or plan when their life will end.

"Strength does not correspond with courage".

Meaning: Being physically large or strong does not automatically mean a person has the internal fortitude or boldness to face difficult or dangerous situations.

"Strength has no wealth".

Meaning: Being physically strong or using brute force does not guarantee wealth, success, or material possessions.

Every case begins from the stomach

Meaning: The kikuyu have an ox or a goat killed, roasted and distributed to judges at the beginning of every case.

Every case begins from the stomach

Meaning: The kikuyu have an ox or a goat killed, roasted and distributed to judges at the beginning of every case.

No one regrets things when leaving, but rather when they return.

Meaning: People often leave or act with high confidence, ignoring warnings or needs.

What is masai is not in kikuyu.

Meaning: There is many a slip twixt the cup and the lip

You cannot rob a leopard of its cub while it is awake

Meaning: You should never underestimate someone or try to take away what rightfully and fiercely belongs to them

A brave warrior does not fear consequences .

Meaning: A person of action must be willing to take risks and face the difficult outcomes or criticisms that come with making tough decisions.

He is a man that looks after money as njuu looks after locusts.

Meaning: Njuu is a bird which accompanies migrating locusts to feed on them.

Two wives are two pots full of poison.

Meaning: The more women you have in your house, the more troubles you must expect.

Men do not know liberity

Meaning: One does not give without hope of return

Live men do not lack work

Meaning: life would be too smooth if it had no rubs in it.

The elders drink afterwards.

Meaning: Elderly people are not in such a hurry as young ones.

Bought things do not fill the granary.

Meaning: Do not hope to become rich without cultivating your fields.

The buying of a wife begins from a little thing.

Meaning: Great events have small beginnings.

The window's sons have no tears.

Meaning: It means that they have been accustomed to suffer very early

The lawsuit of a fool keeps the court all day

Meaning: The lawsuit of a fool never comes to an end.

We speak by proverb; he who is intelligent will understand .

Meaning:

He who adorns himself knows to what to what sort of dance he is going .

Meaning: The is a reason for everthing.

The fool takes many people with him"

Meaning: A fool cannot bear his own company.

The piece of cloth that is sometimes the one that leads you to the highway.

Meaning:

The grove of the heart is not laid open.

Meaning: It means that a person's inner thoughts, deep emotions, or true intentions are private and cannot be fully seen or exposed by others.

A secret agreement enabled people to kill watatua.

Meaning: Watatua was a powerful Chief, invincible in open combat, who was killed at night by a few men.

Every feast has its gets of honor.

Meaning: It means that every special event, gathering, or undertaking has a specific person for whom it is truly meant or who holds the highest importance in that context.

"To wait is not to tremble"

Meaning: Its deeper meaning is that men's actions or situations should not be judged at first sight, and that patience is a sign of calm confidence rather than fear or weakness.

"To wait is not to tremble"

Meaning: Its deeper meaning is that men's actions or situations should not be judged at first sight, and that patience is a sign of calm confidence rather than fear or weakness.

"To wait is not to tremble"

Meaning: Its deeper meaning is that men's actions or situations should not be judged at first sight, and that patience is a sign of calm confidence rather than fear or weakness.

Lying is a thief's stronghold.

Meaning: It means that a person who does wrong or steals will always try to deny it fiercely, as denial is their main defense.

He who does not know, knows after being told.

Meaning: A man forewarned is forearmed.

"The only thing that is good though old is the muratina .

Meaning: Unlike most things that lose value, break down, or become useless as they get old, muratina becomes better and more potent with age when used to ferment traditional brew (njohi).

Beggars have no worries

Meaning: It highlights that a destitute person who owns nothing does not carry the mental anxieties, burdens, or heartaches of managing, protecting, or losing wealth. An English equivalent is "Poverty needs no granary" or "Beggars have no worries.

Beggars have no worries

Meaning: It highlights that a destitute person who owns nothing does not carry the mental anxieties, burdens, or heartaches of managing, protecting, or losing wealth. An English equivalent is "Poverty needs no granary" or "Beggars have no worries.

Beggars have no worries

Meaning: It highlights that a destitute person who owns nothing does not carry the mental anxieties, burdens, or heartaches of managing, protecting, or losing wealth. An English equivalent is "Poverty needs no granary" or "Beggars have no worries.

Talking something over is better than leaving it pending.

Meaning: Never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today.

"There is no one of the stomach and one of the back."

Meaning: It means that all people—especially children in a family or members of a community—deserve equal love, fairness, and care.

"A wily or crafty person does not walk on dry leaves".

Meaning: Metaphorically, it means that a cunning or guilty person is extremely cautious and avoids doing things that would expose their secrets, presence, or wrong doings .

"Resist the beginnings"

Meaning: "Stop it before it grows too big/overpowers you."

"The cow is given a present when her calf is taken away".

Meaning: when one thing causes you distress or loss, another thing comes along to console or compensate you.

"Great haste breaks the yam tuber instead of taking it out whole".

Meaning: Haste trips up its own heels

Stolen things bring in misfortune.

Meaning: Ill-gotten goods seldom prosper.

A plant loses its blossom as soon at it bears fruits.

Meaning: Woman's beauty is spoilt by maternity.

Men have got quills

Meaning: Do not annoy others because they will respond by hurting

The property of a helpless man must nit be divided before his death.

Meaning: The reason is that he is unable to get anything more than he already possesses.

Ten helpless people were surpassed by a single strong person.

Meaning: One strong person is better than ten helpless ones.

Nobody cries that has not been pinched.

Meaning: No smoke without fire.

Darkness caused to dance even him who cannot.

Meaning: All cats are the same in colour at night

Gicegu of many men is not good.

Meaning: Gicegu is that part of the kikuyu hut where they enclose the ram in order to fatten it. To many cooks spoils the broth.

A piece of land is not a little thing.

Meaning: The proverb means that however small the field you possesses, it has its importance if you work it.

By staying always in the same place one gets lice.

Meaning: The world is a great book, of which they that never stir from home read only page.

The land enriches not the person who clears it, but the person who comes after it is cleared.

Meaning: It means that the heavy initial labor of starting a project or opening up land often benefits later comers rather than the original pioneer.

The chest contains a beehive full of pride.

Meaning: Proud people means that proud people have always in store lots of reasons justifying their wickedness.

Nobody grumbles while carrying a load, but [they start] grumbling when they have laid it down on the ground.

Meaning: When a person is actively engaged in a task, journey, or responsibility, they often keep quiet and push through the physical or mental weight.

A single hand cannot tie a bundle

Meaning: Stresses cooperation and collective effort

Fools rejoice for a bad thing.

Meaning: A fool will laugh when he is drowning.

Grain stored is better than a promise.

Meaning: Values preparation and tangible results over empty words

A visitor is like a flowing river.

Meaning: A guest is only passing through and will eventually leave, so treat them with utmost hospitality while they are with you.

A brave woman does not leave the elephant's tusk behind.

Meaning: When you set out to achieve a difficult task, you must be determined to finish it completely without giving up halfway.

A man without a wife is like a tree without branches

Meaning: Highlights the importance of partnership and family

A stick without a tree cannot stand

Meaning: Everything depends on its source; respect your roots.

A farmer's hands/arms should not be broken.

Meaning: It means one shouldn't discourage or harm someone who provides for them.

A wise person is the one who is advised.

Meaning: To gain wisdom one should listen to advise, listen and learn from others. One must be ready for guidance.

The cow that bellows is not the one that bites.

Meaning: Words are not always matched by action.

Stored firewood laughs at the bring firewood

Meaning: People laugh and make fun of those in trouble yet are next in line.

Family disputes are not judged in public

Meaning: Stresses discretion and resolving issues privately.

Old age cannot be washed away in the river.

Meaning: Certain realities of life, like aging or past mistakes, are inevitable and permanent. You must accept them rather than fighting them.

Unity is strength

Meaning: Its shows how people should work together to succeed, it encourages team work.