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Josephat Hema
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If you don't know how to tie a rope, tie a lot

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Updated 5mo ago
by
Brighid McCarthy
View this proverb in Swahili
Kama hujui kufunga kamba, funga vingi
Once upon a time, there was a young man in search of his talent. One day, he was advised by his grandfather, "Everyone has a talent, seek yours." Therefore, he began his journey to find it.

On the road, he met his peers playing football. They welcomed him and he started playing with them. "Perhaps this is my talent!" he thought to himself hopefully. However, when the ball came near him, the young man was afraid and said, "I don't know how to kick the ball!" The others chased him away, laughing at him.

In the streets, he encountered a street vendor. "Maybe this is my talent." he thought. The vendor welcomed him and instructed, "Greet this customer." But when the customer approached him, the young man was afraid, "I don't know how to greet a customer!" he said. The vendor became angry, and the young man was chased away again.

As he continued to walk, he thought, "I regret leaving home today, I don't have any talent." When he reached the shore, he met a fisherman. The fisherman welcomed him and he boarded the boat. The fisherman gave him a rope and said, "Tie this." "I don't know how to tie a knot!" the young man said quickly. The fisherman answered, "If you don't know how to tie a knot, tie a lot."

After that day, the young man learned a lot from the fisherman, and he tied thousands of knots. Eventually, he became a skilled fisherman respected by the community.

Your talent is not only in your nature, but is formed by the effort you put forth. Accept to be taught by others, and do not fear trying new things. The first knot you tie might not be perfect. But the more ropes you tie, the more you will learn better techniques and strategies.

Those who say "I can't" deny themselves the opportunity to learn. If you don't know how to do something, learn by doing and practicing. If you don't know how to kick a ball, kick many balls. If you don't know how to greet customers, greet many. If you don't know how to tie a knot, tie a lot.
Sources
Thank you to Jan M in Connecticut, USA for suggesting this proverb to us!
Story: CC BY (Originally written in Swahili)
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Other proverbs
Roma haikujengwa kwa siku moja

Je, una ndoto kubwa?

Ndoto ambayo huwezi kuitimiza peke yako? Labda hata ambayo haiwezi kukamilika katika kizazi kimoja?

Kuna makanisa ya kigothi barani Ulaya ambayo yalichukua zaidi ya miaka 600 -- zaidi ya vizazi 20 -- ili kukamilisha ujenzi!

Ingawa Piramidi kubwa zaidi ya Giza imejengwa kwa kasi (ndani ya kizazi kimoja), ila pia ilichukua makumi ya maelfu ya watu.

Nchini Tanzania, Msikiti Mkuu wa Kilwa Kisiwani ulijengwa katika karne za 11-14, ukajengwa upya baada ya tetemeko la ardhi, na uliendelea kufanyiwa ukarabati hadi karne ya 18. Ulitajwa pia miaka ya 1300 na msafiri Ibn Battuta. (Je ulijua unaweza kuona Kilwa Kisiwani kupitia "ziara ya mtandaoni" yaani 3D Virtual Tour? Ona kiungo chini kwenye "Rasilimali")

Maajabu ya dunia, ya kisasa na ya kale, yalianza kama ndoto kubwa, ndoto ambazo zilichukua vizazi vingi kutimiza. Kila kizazi kiliendeleza kazi ya zamani na pia walitoa mchango wao kwa kubadilisha mipango ya siku zijazo. 

Hivyo bhasi, kama unajaribu kufanya jambo kubwa -- jambo ambalo hakika litabadilisha ulimwengu - usitarajie litafanyika kwa siku moja. Na usijaribu kuijenga peke yako. 

Methali Zinazohusiana:


 Kiswahili:
Ukitaka kwenda haraka, nenda peke yako, ukitaka kwenda mbali, nenda na wenzako

Kifaransa:
Rome ne fu[t] pas faite toute en un jour
Kutoka kitabu cha Li Proverbe au Vilain kilichochapishwa takriban mwaka wa 1190
Kifaransa cha kisasa: Rome ne s'est pas faite en un jour
Maana yake: Roma haikujengwa kwa siku moja

Kichina:
冰凍三尺，非一日之寒
Mita ya barafu sio kwa sababu ya siku moja ya baridi

Kigaelic
Chan ann leis a’ chiad bhuille a thuiteas a’ chraobh
Sio pigo la kwanza linaloangusha mti
...

Picha: Shukran kwa Zamani Project waliounda ziara ya mtandaoni ya Kilwa Kisiwani!

Updated 5mo ago
by
Brighid McCarthy
Kuokoa mia ni kuingiza mia
Methali hii inatoka Kiingereza "A penny saved is a penny earned." Maana yake, mia inayobaki mfukoni inaweza kutumiwa kwajali ya madhumuni mengine. Mifano: Inaweza kutumika kwaajili ya kununua kitu kingine, unaweza kukopesha au kuwekeza ili kuingiza riba au pesa zaidi katika siku zijazo. Katika uchumi, kanuni hii inaitwa Opportunity Costs (gharama za kukosa fursa). Tunapotumia pesa au muda kwa jambo limoja, tunapoteza pia fursa ya kuzitumia kwajili ya jambo lingine.

Methali hii huhusishwa na Benjamin Franklin, lakini si chimbuko halisi, wala hakuandika msemo huu kamili. Misemo karibu na huu ilichapishwa kabla yake. Kwa mfano: 

A penny spar'd is twice got.
Senti iliyookolewa hupatikana mara mbili.
- Outlandish Proverbs by George Herbert (1640)  
 
Katika Poor Richard's Almanac (1736), Benjamin Franklin alinukuu methali hii na alifafanua vizuri kanuni ya Opportuinty Cost hivi:

Vidokezo kwa Wale Wanaotaka kuwa Matajiri

Matumizi ya pesa ndiyo faida zote zinayopatikana ukiwa na pesa.
Kwa pound [£] sita kwa mwaka [yaani riba] unaweza kutumia  £ mia [yaani kupitia mkopo], kama unajulikana kama mwaminifu na mwenye busara.
Anayetumia groat [senti 4] kwa siku bure, hutumia pound £ zaidi ya sita kwa mwaka, ambazo ni bei ya kujipatia matumizi ya pound £ mia moja.
[Kwa hivyo] Anayepoteza muda wake wa thamani ya groat [senti 4] kwa siku, siku moja na nyingine, anapoteza fursa ya kutumia pound mia moja kila siku.
Anayepoteza muda wa shilingi tano kwa uvivu hupoteza shilingi tano, ni kama amezitupa tu baharini.
Anayepoteza shilingi tano sio tu kwamba anapoteza kiasi hicho, bali anapoteza pia faida yote ambayo ingeweza kupatikana kwa kuzitumia katika shughuli zake, ambayo, akiwa kijana, wakati wa uzee ingefikia kiasi kikubwa cha fedha.
Tena: anayeuza kwa mkopo huongeza bei ya kile anachokiuza kwa kiasi sawa riba angaliingiza na pesa hizo kwa kipindi ambacho atazikosa. Kwa hivyo, anayenunua kwa mkopo hulipa riba kwa kile anachonunua, na anayelipa pesa mara moja kwa kila anachonunua hukoa fursa ya kuzikopesha kwa wengine, kwa hivyo aliye na kitu alichonunua ameshalipa riba kwa matumizi yake.
Hata hivyo nasema kulipa mara moja unaponunua ni bora, kwa sababu anayeuza kwa mkopo anatarajia kupoteza asilimia tano ya mikopo; kwa hivyo anaongeza bei ya kile anachokiuza kwa asilimia ileile ili kuzuia hasara. Wanaolipa kwa mikopo hulipa kodi mara moja. Anayelipa kwa pesa mara moja anaweza kuzuia kodi hii
"Senti iliyohifadhiwa ni senti mbili hakika;
[haba] kwa siku ni [nne] kwa mwaka."
 
Basi, unapofikiria kutumia muda au pesa zako katika jamblo fulani, jiulize, ningekosa, ningepata fursa zipi? Pesa hizi zingeweza kutumikia vipi? Mifano: kumkopesha mwingine, kurudisha madeni uliyonayo, kubuni kitu kipya au kuwekeza katika kitu ambacho kinaweza kuleta faida kubwa mbeleni.
...
Updated 5mo ago
by
Brighid McCarthy
Asiyefunzwa na mamaye hufunzwa na ulimwengu

Swali: Je, umejifunza zaidi kutoka kwa wazazi wako ama kupitia uzoefu wako ulimwenguni?


Methali hii hutumika wakati mtu amekosa na kupata madhara, haswa kama ameonywa... kama vile dereva wa lori katika picha hii (kutoka Oxfordshire, Uingereza). Bila kujali kama ulifunzwa na wazazi, hatimaye lazima ukabiliane na ukweli wa maisha halisi. Ona pia: Mtoto akilia wembe, mpe

Kuna shairi lililotungwa na Akilimali Snow-White juu ya methali hii:

ASOFUNZWA NA WAZAZI, HUFUNZWA NA ULIMWENGU
na Akilimali Snow-White

Zama walinipumbaza, wazee kwa kunilea,
Nikashindwa kujifunza, myendo mipya ya dunia,
Leo najipendekeza, kwa walimwengu sikia,
Asofunzwa na wazazi, hufunzwa na walimwengu.

Kazi zote singeweza, bila kuwanyenyekea,
Kutii kuwembeleza, kisha kuwatumikia,
Hata nikawapendeza, wakanifunza kwa nia,
Asofunzwa na wazazi, hufunzwa na walimwengu.

Sasa kusema naweza, Kizungu bila udhia,
Kama vile Kingereza, na lugha zingine pia,
Kwa juhudi najifunza, hata zimenielea,
Asofunzwa na wazazi, hufunzwa na walimwengu.

Naweza kuzungumza, pasipo kutia doa,
Na paovu kuongoza, doa nikaliondoa,
Mwishowe pakapendeza, lingano moja hatua,
Asofunzwa na wazazi, hufunzwa na walimwengu.

Sina nilipopasaza, pasina kupachungua,
Pande zote hachunguza, marifa nikachukuwa,
Hata najua kuuza, bidhaa na kununua,
Asofunzwa na wazazi, hufunzwa na walimwengu.

Kiasi nilo jifunza, si haba kwa kubabia,
Nitokapo napendeza, kazi njema natumia,
Ni vigumu kuibeza, jinsi inanielea,
Asofunzwa na wazazi, hufunzwa na walimwengu.

Haifai kupuuza, kwa kitu usicho jua,
Jaribu kupeleleza, na kisha ukichungua,
Nia unap,o ikaza, hushindwi kitu kujua,
Asofunzwa na wazazi, hufunzwa na walimwengu.

Kazi nilizojifunza, babangu hakuzijua,
Hakujua Kingereza, kuuza na kununua,
Bali kujipendekeza, ndipo mwana nikajua,
Asofunzwa na wazazi, hufunzwa na walimwengu.

Nawatilia nyongeza, mlio nisaidia,
Nyote mlionifunza, Rabi awape afia,
Mungu heri tawajaza, mema kuwarudishia,
Asofunzwa na wazazi, hufunzwa na walimwengu.

- Diwani ya Akilimali

Fikeni E. M. K. Senkoro (1988) aliandika juu ya shairi hili:
[M]tu hawezi kupata uzoefu wa mambo yote yahusuyo maisha kutoka kwa wazazi wake: lazima awe tayari kufunzwa na ulimwengu, yaani kujifunza kutoka kwa wengine zaidi ya baba na mama yake. 

Nimejitahidi kutafsiri shairi hili kwa Kiingereza, na nitashukuru sana sana kupata feedback zenu, ndugu wajuaji wa Kiswahili na Kiingereza. (Someni hapa.)

Mnafikiriaje? Shairi hili lina maana gani kwako? 
...
Updated 5mo ago
by
Brighid McCarthy
To ask is not ignorance
Many people are afraid to ask questions because they don't want to be seen as stupid. But asking questions is the best way to learn from others.

Asking questions also helps others around you. Have you ever hesitated to ask a question because you thought others already understood... but later you realized they didn't either? 

This proverb is similar to the English saying, “There's no such thing as a stupid question.”
...
Updated 5mo ago
by
Brighid McCarthy
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