List Of Inspiring African Proverbs

List Of Inspiring African Proverbs

Let these African Proverbs encourage and inspire you. These proverbs originated from Africa and are full of wisdom. Many of them are short but contain wisdom that can be applied to daily life. They have provide motivation and guidance to many over the years. You may find yourself thinking about the short sentence only to realize the truth that so few words can mean.

If you don’t stand for something, you will fall for something.
African Proverb

Don’t set sail on someone else’s star.
African Proverb

If you run after two hares you will catch neither.
African Proverb

A cutting word is worse than a bowstring, a cut may heal, but the cut of the tongue does not.
African Proverb

Even the best cooking pot will not produce food.
African Proverb

If you climb up a tree, you must climb down the same tree.
African Proverb

It is not what you are called, but what you answer to.
African Proverb

A chattering bird builds no nest.
African Proverb

Do not follow a person who is running away.
African Proverb

When a needle falls into a deep well, many people will look into the well, but few will be ready to go down after it.
African Proverb

For tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.
African Proverb

Only a fool tests the depth of the river with both feet.
African Proverb

To try and to fail is not laziness.
African Proverb

He who thinks he is leading and has no one following him is only taking a walk.
African Proverb

If you offend, ask for a pardon; if offended forgive.
African Proverb

A good deed is something one returns.
African Proverb

Ugliness with a good character is better than beauty.
African Proverb

A family is like a forest, when you are outside it is dense, when you are inside you see that each tree has it’s place.
African Proverb

He who learns, teaches.
African Proverb

Patience is the mother of a beautiful child.
African Proverb

Sticks in a bundle are unbreakable.
African Proverb

A single stick may smoke, but it will not burn.
African Proverb

It is not work that kills, but worry.
African Proverb

Seeing is different than being told.
African Proverb

By crawling a child learns to stand.
African Proverb

If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.
African Proverb

There is no medicine to cure hatred.
African Proverb

If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.
African Proverb

You can tell a ripe corn by its look.
African Proverb

If you are filled with pride, then you will have no room for wisdom.
African Proverb

Even the mightest eagle comes down to the tree tops to rest.
African Proverb

A stream cannot rise above its source.
African Proverb

Every misfortune is a blessing.
African Proverb

Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors.
African Proverb

A ripe melon falls by itself.
African Proverb

A man who pays respect to the great paves his own way for greatness.
African Proverb

Lack of knowledge is darker than night.
African Proverb

Do not call to a dog with a whip in your hand.
African Proverb

Repetition is the mother of knowledge.
African Proverb

Wood already touched by fire is not hard to set alight.
African Proverb

One must talk little and listen much.
African Proverb

Do not look where you fell, but where you slipped.
African Proverb

However long the night may last, there will be a morning.
African Proverb

He who is being carried does not realize how far the town is.
African Proverb

By labor comes wealth.
African Proverb

Ashes fly back into the face of him who throws them.
African Proverb

Having a good discussion is like having riches.
African Proverb

Knowledge is like a garden: If it is not cultivated, it cannot be harvested.
African Proverb

When there is no enemy within, the enemies outside cannot hurt you.
African Proverb

Rain does not fall on one roof alone.
African Proverb

A friend is someone you share the path with.
African Proverb

A tree is straightened while it is still young.
African Proverb

Confiding a secret to an unworthy person is like carrying grain in a bag with a hole.
African Proverb

Between true friends even water drunk together is sweet enough.
African Proverb

The earth is a beehive, we all enter by the same door.
African Proverb

He who does not know one thing knows another.
African Proverb

When God cooks, you don’t see smoke.
African Proverb

One falsehood spoils a thousand truths.
African Proverb

A feeble effort will not fulfill the self.
African Proverb

Do not call the forest that shelters you a jungle.
African Proverb