Large tasks in life need to tackled in small steps, day by day. This proverb comes from Swahili:

Can you think of other similar proverbs that encourage the same way of thinking? 

This saying reminds be of a poem called "Little Things" by Julia Abigail Fletcher Carney:

Julia Carney composed this poem in 1845 as a student in class -- and she was given only 10 minutes to write it!

Have you ever seen a blacksmith at work? Or maybe an artisan shaping hot glass? It's pretty incredible to watch, right? (If not, visit Shanga Foundation in Arusha or check out video links below)
In our everyday experience, glass is hard, brittle and breakable, but glass is actually made by melting sand and shaping it like liquid.

Some things in life seem unchangeable; they just will not bend. If we use all our strength, they only shatter in our hands and hurt us. But a skillful craftsman can make brittle things soft and malleable by preparing them appropriately, and taking decisive action at the right moment.

This proverb is often used to mean that you should take action quickly when an opportunity arises, so that you don't miss it. See also: There is a tide

However, it's worth noting that in the play, this advice has pretty bad consequences for Brutus, who didn't exactly sail on to fortune after this speech (read more...)

Many cultures and languages have a proverb that is very similar to "Strike while the iron is hot." It seems likely that the proverb has multiple independent origins.

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.”

Methali hii ya Kiingereza "To the victor go the spoils" inatafsirika pia kama "Mshindi ndiye anayechukua vyote" au "Mshindi hupokea nyara zote."

Mshindi wa shindano ndiye anayepokea tuzo. Huwa anachukua asilimia kubwa ya faida ama faida zote, na hata manufaa zaidi ya yale yaliyokuwa yakipiganiwa.

Katika vita, nyara zinaweza kuwa ardhi, mamlaka au rasilimali nyingine zinazotafutwa. Katika shughuli zingine nyara zinaweza kuwa sifa, pesa au fursa. Methali hii hutumika ili kueleza matokeo yasiyo sawa au kutukumbusha kwamba katika migogoro mingi ni mshindi ndiye atakayechukua yote, asilimia kubwa, au angalau, kupendelewa. Angalia sehemu ya vyanzo kwa maelezo ya muktadha kuhusu chimbuko la methali hii, mwanasiasa wa Marekani katika miaka ya 1830 (Kiingereza).