Tiny African Proverbs That Make Life More Beautiful
Rediscovered wisdom from the ancients
If historians have got it right, we all come from Africa. So, that’s where a part of us will always belong.
We may have crossed oceans, developed languages, and grown up in cultures and traditions very different from our ancient past, but we owe a great deal to those who have come before us as they forged the path we’re now on.
So, let’s take a trip down memory lane to rediscover some of the world’s oldest wisdom and the people who cultivated it.
1. “If you want to fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together”
Or as another African proverb puts it:
“A single bracelet does not jingle.”
We’re social creatures, after all, so we need one another to survive. But it’s more than that, we need one another to laugh, dance, love, create, and make sense of the world.
2. “We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children”
In ancient India, there was a tradition where decisions were made on the basis of how they would impact 7 generations in the future.
This created societies far greater than any individual and it also honoured, protected, and preserved the Earth.
All ancient people knew this which is something the modern world lacks.
“If we stand tall it is because we stand on the shoulders of many ancestors” — African proverb
3. “When the root is deep, there is no need to fear the wind”
Even if the outside world is swirling with chaos, our centre can still be still. The most important thing is to build a solid foundation of safety, compassion, and humility, and that starts within.
4. “A roaring lion kills no game.”
That’s why George Carlin once said: “It’s the quiet ones you have to watch out for.”
And he’s right.
Angry lions kill more game. So be brave and conquer your demons.
“When you can bear your own silence, you are free.” - Mooji
5. “Examine what is said, not who is speaking.”
Powerful leaders of the past have used words as their vehicle for change. People like Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, and Martin Luther King used language to connect and inspire people through love.
Others like Hitler used words to connect and inspire people through hate and fear.
This proverb invites us to see beyond the speaker and listen to the message, then make a judgement call. All the people above had great charisma, charm, and gravitas but it was what they did with it that mattered.
6. “If you are filled with pride, then you will have no room for wisdom.”
Or as King Solomon warned: “Pride comes before a fall.”
So, be careful of pride, it lacks humility and all humility is the path to wisdom.
7. “You always learn a lot more when you lose than when you win.”
Winning feels great, there’s no doubt about that. But losing provides insights that winning cannot.
The harsh truth is if you do something long enough, losing is inevitable. But it shouldn’t be feared because it’s a sign of growth.
When losing becomes an opportunity to learn and grow, the fear of failure suddenly disappears because how can learning something ever be considered wrong?
This change of perspective was huge in my own life and it’s when I came to appreciate that losing isn’t losing, it’s learning.
“To win you gotta lose. To be successful, you got to have something that's not successful. To be happy, you have to have disappointment. All of those things have evolved & happened to make me who I am.” - Michael Jordan
8. “Knowledge is a garden. If it isn’t cultivated, you can’t harvest it”
This goes for information, intuition, connection to spirit, and relationships.
Whatever seeds are planted in the mind are bound to fruit if they’re given enough love and attention.
So, only plant seeds that you want to see fruit. Fill your brain up with knowledge that nourishes you. And then live off the goodness they bring into your life.
9. “The axe forgets but the tree remembers.”
That’s why Don Miguel Ruiz said, “Be impeccable with your word.”
Our words and actions have a long-lasting impact. Sadly, we often forget what we have said but other people don’t. They’re the tree, so to speak.
So, be careful with your words, they’re energetic beings that travel through time.
“Words are energy and they cast spells, that's why it's called spelling. Change the way you speak about yourself, and you can change your life.” - Bruce Lee
10. “If you want to know the end, look at the beginning.”
So, let’s look at where we started.
“If you want to fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together”
Winnie-the-Pooh once said: “Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in the heart.”
Hopefully, these tiny African proverbs have done just that.
Have a beautiful week!
Thanks for these💜 this one really speaks to me: “When the root is deep, there is no need to fear the wind”