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Proverbs

Pride goes before a fall

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Updated 5mo ago
by
Brighid McCarthy
View this proverb in Swahili
Kiburi hutangulia anguko
Today's proverb means that people who are excessively proud are likely to fail. Success can make us overconfident, causing mistakes. Pride and ego can also blind us to our limitations and prevent us from seeing reality clearly.

On the other hand, in the modern world, many people see confidence and self-esteem as positive virtues. What is the difference between healthy and unhealthy pride? Share your thoughts below!

This proverb is often associated with the story of Icarus, from Greek mythology. (Spoiler alert for those who haven't check out our new picture book, "Don't Fly Too Close to the Sun"). Icarus was given wings made of feathers and wax by his father, Daedalus. He was warned not to fly too close to the sun, but Icarus ignored his father’s advice, proudly flying higher and higher. The sun melted the wax, and Icarus fell into the sea and drowned.

Just before the Titanic's maiden voyage the company's leader, Phillip Franklin, wrote:
There is no danger that Titanic will sink. The boat is unsinkable...
Because of the company's excessive confidence, the Titanic did not carry enough lifeboats for all the passengers. The Titanic sank in 1912, killing over 1500 people.

In literature, many tragic heroes are brought down by pride. For example, in Shakespeare's King Lear, the king's pride makes him vulnerable to flattery, and his poor judgement costs him everything he has. Julius Caesar's pride made him insist on going to the Senate on the Ides of March, ignoring many warnings that he would be murdered. Similarly, Oedipus is too proud to listen when others warn him not to seek to know the truth about his parents.

Today's proverb comes from the book of Proverbs in the Bible. 
Pride goeth before destruction,
and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Proverbs 16:18, King James Version (1611)

The Quran also contains numerous warnings against pride, like:
ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ مَن كَانَ مُخْتَالًا فَخُورًا 
God does not like arrogant, boastful people
Surah An-Nisa - 36

Here are a few other proverbs that relate to the same principle:
French:
Qui fait le malin tombe dans le ravin
He who gets cute falls into the ravine
Russian:
Сатана гордился, с неба свалился; фараон гордился, в море утопился; а мы гордимся - куда годимся?
Satan was proud and fell from heaven; the pharaoh was proud and sank in the sea; and when we are proud, what are we worth?
English:
The bigger they come, the harder they fall.
Details Image from the painting by Caspar David Friedrich, 1817, "Wanderer above the Sea of Fog / Der Wanderer über dem Nebelmeer"
Sources
Quran (Surat An-Nisa 36)
English and Russian proverbs (Wiktionary)
French Proverb (Wiktionary)
Titanic: (BBC)

Related Books on Maktaba.org:
Don't Fly Too Close to the Sun
King Lear by William Shakespeare
Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare
Oedipus by Sophocles
Holy Bible, King James Version
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Other proverbs
Rome wasn't built in a day

Do you have a big dream?

A dream too big for you to ever accomplish on your own? Maybe even too big to be accomplished in one generation?

Some gothic cathedrals in Europe took over 600 years -- more than 20 generations -- to complete! Although the Great Pyramid of Giza seems to have been built much faster (in a single generation), it also took tens of thousands of people.

In Tanzania, the Great Mosque of Kilwa was built in the 11th-14th centuries, rebuilt after earthquake damage, and continued to be remodeled up to the 18th century. It was described in the 1300s by Ibn Battuta. (You can take a 3D virtual tour of Kilwa! Check out the link in sources.)

The wonders of the world, modern and ancient, began as big dreams, dreams that took many generations to fulfill. Each generation continued the work of the past and also contributed to revising the blueprints for the future.

So if you are trying to do something great -- something that will really change the world -- don't expect to do it in one day. And don't try to do it alone. 

Related proverbs:


 Swahili:
Ukitaka kwenda haraka, nenda peke yako, ukitaka kwenda mbali, nenda na wenzako
If you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far, go together 

French:
Rome ne fu[t] pas faite toute en un jour
from Li Proverbe au Vilain, published around 1190
Modern French: Rome ne s'est pas faite en un jour
Rome wasn't built in a day

Chinese:
冰凍三尺，非一日之寒
Three feet of ice is not the result of one cold day

Scottish Gaelic
Chan ann leis a’ chiad bhuille a thuiteas a’ chraobh
It is not with the first strike that the tree will fall
...

Image credit: Screenshot from 3D virtual tour of Kilwa Kisiwani created by Zamani Project

Updated 5mo ago
by
Brighid McCarthy
2
All that glitters is not gold
Once upon a time long ago, there was a beautiful, intelligent and kind young woman named Portia. Many men wanted to marry her and came to woo her. Portia’s father had died and left behind a will instructing that any suitor of Portia would have to choose among three caskets, one of gold, one of silver and one of lead. Only the suitor who chose correctly would be allowed to marry Portia and inherit all her father’s wealth. One day, the Prince of Morocco came to woo Portia.

The Merchant of Venice

Watch ▶️ on YouTube 

Portia: Go draw aside the curtains and discover
The several caskets to this noble prince.
Now make your choice.

Prince of Morocco: The first, of gold, who this inscription bears,
'Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire;'
 The second, silver, which this promise carries,
 'Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves;'
 This third, dull lead, with warning all as blunt,
 'Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath.'
How shall I know if I do choose the right?

Portia: The one of them contains my picture, prince:
 If you choose that, then I am yours withal.

Prince of Morocco: Some god direct my judgment! Let me see;
 I will survey the inscriptions back again.
 What says this leaden casket?
 'Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath.'
 Must give: for what? for lead? hazard for lead?
 This casket threatens. Men that hazard all
 Do it in hope of fair advantages:
 A golden mind stoops not to shows of dross;
 I'll then nor give nor hazard aught for lead.
 What says the silver with her virgin hue?
 'Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves.'
 As much as he deserves! Pause there, Morocco,
 And weigh thy value with an even hand:
 If thou be'st rated by thy estimation,
 Thou dost deserve enough; and yet enough
 May not extend so far as to the lady:
 And yet to be afeard of my deserving
 Were but a weak disabling of myself.
 As much as I deserve! Why, that's the lady:
 I do in birth deserve her, and in fortunes,
 In graces and in qualities of breeding;
 But more than these, in love I do deserve.
 What if I stray'd no further, but chose here?
 Let's see once more this saying graved in gold
 'Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire.'
 Why, that's the lady; all the world desires her;
 From the four corners of the earth they come,
 To kiss this shrine, this mortal-breathing saint:
 The Hyrcanian deserts and the vasty wilds
 Of wide Arabia are as thoroughfares now
 For princes to come view fair Portia:
 The watery kingdom, whose ambitious head
 Spits in the face of heaven, is no bar
 To stop the foreign spirits, but they come,
 As o'er a brook, to see fair Portia.
 One of these three contains her heavenly picture.
 Is't like that lead contains her? 'Twere damnation
 To think so base a thought: it were too gross
 To rib her cerecloth in the obscure grave.
 Or shall I think in silver she's immured,
 Being ten times undervalued to tried gold?
 O sinful thought! Never so rich a gem
 Was set in worse than gold. They have in England
 A coin that bears the figure of an angel
 Stamped in gold, but that's insculp'd upon;
 But here an angel in a golden bed
 Lies all within. Deliver me the key:
 Here do I choose, and thrive I as I may!

Portia: There, take it, prince; and if my form lie there,
 Then I am yours.

[He unlocks the golden casket]
Prince of Morocco: O hell! what have we here?
 A carrion Death, within whose empty eye
 There is a written scroll! I'll read the writing.
 [Reads]
All that glitters is not gold;
Often have you heard that told:
Many a man his life hath sold
But my outside to behold:
Gilded tombs do worms enfold.
Had you been as wise as bold,
Young in limbs, in judgment old,
Your answer had not been inscroll'd:
Fare you well; your suit is cold.
 Cold, indeed; and labour lost:
 Then, farewell, heat, and welcome, frost!
 Portia, adieu. I have too grieved a heart
 To take a tedious leave: thus losers part.
 [Exit with his train.

- From The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare, Act II Scene 7
...
Updated 5mo ago
by
Brighid McCarthy
1
Mtoto akilia wembe, mpe
Habari zenu wapenzi wa lugha na hekima! Karibuni tena katika kipindi chetu cha leo cha Methali! Methali ya leo ni “Mtoto akilia wembe, mpe.” Je, unaijua? Kwa walezi wengi, inaweza kuonewa… kali sana, au sivyo? Ina maana gani kwako? Je, unakubaliana nayo? Tushirikiane mawazo. 

Nikisikia nitasahau, nikiona nitakumbuka, nikifanya nitaelewa.
-Mwalimu Amos 

Mtoto akitaka wembe, basi mpe ili aelewe kwanini alionywa dhidi ya kucheza nao. Methali hii inaonyesha umuhimu wa kuwapa watu nafasi za kujifunza kutokana na uzoefu wao wenyewe, hata kama wanaweza kuumiwa (kidogo). Vilevile, hata ukikataa kumpa, labda hatatiii na atacheza nao ukiwa nje. Methali hii inaweza kutumika pia kama onyo kwa mtu anayepuuza ushauri au kusisitiza njia yake. Ingawa ni muhimu kusikiliza ushauri na maonyo kutoka kwa wengine, wakati mwingine tunahitaji kuona matokeo ya vitendo vyetu wenyewe ili kuelewa madhara yake. 

Adhabu ya Asili  (Natural Consequences)

Katika eneo la malezi, methali hii inafundisha kanuni ya Natural Consequences (Adhabu Halisi au Adhabu ya Asili). Adhabu ya asili ni matokeo yatakayokuja kwa sababu ya tabia ya mtoto mwenyewe. Tofauti na adhabu ya kutolewa au adhabu ya viboko, adhabu ya asili hujitokeza bila mlezi kujiingilia. Kwa mfano, fikiria kama mwanako amesahau daftari yake nyumbani. Ungefanyaje? Wazazi wengine wanajibu “Singefanya chochote, maana atahitaji kueleza kwa mwalimu wake.” Wengine wanasema “Ningekimbia shuleni ili kumletea daftari, halafu jioni ningempa adhabu.” Ipi bora?  Jibuni hapo chini… 

Swali: Je, mtoto akilia nyoka utampa?

Sawa tumekubaliana mtoto akilia wembe, mpe. Lakini… fikiria kama mtoto analia kitu cha hatari zaidi— je utakubali? Yesu aliwauliza wazazi: “Mtoto akiomba samaki, je, atampa nyoka?” Akilia nyoka, utampa? Wembe unaweza kusababisha jeraha ndogo, lakini si hatari sana kama nyoka mwenye sumu. 
Wewe kama mzazi, utakubali kiasi gani cha hatari ili ajifunze mwenyewe? Kama anaomba kuacha masomo ili kucheza michezo za simu sikuzote? Kama anaomba kumwoa/kumwolewa na mtu ambaye haumwamini katika umri mdogo? Yaani pia kuna maamuzi muhimu ambayo watoto hawako tayari kujifanyia. 
Je wewe kama mzazi unawezaje kuamua au kutambua kama unapaswa kumwokoa / kumlinda mwanako, ama kama unapaswa kumwachia afunzwe na ulimwengu? Wazazi na walezi wote tunaomba maoni yenu!

Nyoka ana madhara.
-Mwalimu Shila  

Utekelezaji wa methali hii katika maisha ya kila siku

Elimu: Watu hukumbuka walichojifunza kwa vitendo kuliko walichoambiwa kwa maneno. Utafute nafasi za kutekeleza kile unachojifunza.
Malezi: Mpe mtoto uhuru na nafasi za kujifunza kupitia uzoefu. Usimtatulie kila jambo, na usiogope anapofeli, kama hakuna hatari wala madhara ya muda mrefu, maana kufeli ni nafasi ya kujifunza kwake.
Kusikiliza: Ukipuuza maonyo na shauri, usishangaye kuona madhara yaliyotabiriwa.
...

Picha hii imetengenezwa na akili bandia (AI)

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