Proverb Monday

Proverb: Wo ne ɔberεmpɔn na εda a, anka wobε ɔsi apini anadwo
Translation: If you were to sleep with a paramount chief, you would hear that he sighs in the night.
Usage: Even the great have their troubles and anxieties
No. 6570 in Bu me Bε by Peggy Appiah et al.

Comments

  1. Amy13 June 2011 at 10:44

    Another great proverb, thanks!

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  2. ImageNations13 June 2011 at 10:56

    Thanks Amy... Even the elephant cries...lol

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  3. @parridhlantern13 June 2011 at 11:05

    Great proverb, but it doesn't help me knowing the great & good have troubles as well lol.

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  4. ImageNations13 June 2011 at 11:11

    @PL I thought it makes us more equal before nature. Doesn't it? lol... whereas the poor think of how to get money, the rich think of how to protect the wealth...lol

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  5. Geosi13 June 2011 at 13:15

    And why should they not have? They certainly are not super humans where they do not encounter troubles. I love this proverb.

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  6. ImageNations13 June 2011 at 14:11

    Definitely not! lol

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  7. Zibilee13 June 2011 at 15:42

    I love this proverb and have actually been thinking about this a lot. Everyone has scars and wounds, it's just that often they keep them hidden.

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  8. ImageNations13 June 2011 at 16:03

    Exactly Zibilee. So that those who talk a lot are seen as the ones with the 'biggest' problem. Someone said that if we should ask everybody to bring his/her problem so that we add everything up and divide among ourselves, everybody would be willing to take his/her problem back. Because you look a other people's problem and you think 'I am blessed'.

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  9. Sarah Norman13 June 2011 at 16:46

    That is so true. I often wonder if really terrible people, like dictators and torturers, sleep well at night. I hope not

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  10. ImageNations13 June 2011 at 17:02

    @Sarah, do you think they do? Or do you think they are really happy, deep down their soul? Their rule is like a drug, if it wanes, the realities open up to them. And they don't like to see the real selves. So they continue being wicked. It's like drinking to cover up problems caused by the drinking habit.

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  11. Lisa Almeda Sumner13 June 2011 at 22:06

    I love your Monday proverbs. Proverbs express so much wisdom in so few words.

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  12. ImageNations14 June 2011 at 01:22

    @Lisa Almeda, yes they do. That's why I love them. They also show the rich heritage of a culture. For instance in Twi (my language), a 'Gathering' literally means 'A Proverb Market'. So that when Chiefs and people meet or elders meet, it takes only the wise to understand what's being said. And he who is able to properly use proverbs to argue his point is regarded as being eloquent and wise.

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