Zambian Proverbs

“The child who cries is the one who is fed.”

Making your needs known is necessary to receive help; suffering in silence goes unnoticed.

“A child does not laugh at the ugliness of its mother.”

One should not mock or disrespect the source of one's existence and nurture.

“A bone given to you by a friend is more than a feast from a stranger.”

Small gifts from loved ones are worth more than large gifts from those with hidden motives.

“No one chews the food that is in another person's mouth.”

Everyone must do their own work and face their own challenges.

“Follow the footprints of the elephant if you wish to reach the watering hole.”

Learning from those who have gone before leads to success.

“The river that is deepest makes the least noise.”

Those with the most substance and depth are often the quietest.

“An anthill in your path is a mountain if you are an ant.”

The size of an obstacle depends on your perspective and scale.