Ustawi wa kiuchumi huenea na huwafikia raia wote wa nchi au eneo. Nchi haiwezi kufaidika bila raia wake wote kufaidika kwa namna moja au nyingine, kama vile baharini, maji yakijaa boti zote zitapanda, wimbi linalokuja litainua boti zote ziwe mitumbwi, jahazi, meli au mashua.

Msemo huo hutumiwa kumaanisha makundi yote yalinufaika kutokana na mabadiliko ya hali, hasa utitiri wa rasilimali, hata kama inaonekana kama zinawafikia matajiri wachache pekee. Nimesikia wafanyakazi wakiona wenzao wamepokea bonasi au kamisheni kubwa wanasema, "A rising tide lists all boats," ikimaanisha mauzo yakipanda, mapato ya kampuni yataongezeka na fursa kwa kampuni, na kwa hivyo, kwa wafanyikazi wote pia. Katika kesi hii, ni wazi wimbi halizinui boti zote kwa usawa au kiasi kilekile.

Wakosoaji wa methali hii wanaweza kulalamika kwamba methali hii inatumika pia ili kuhalalisha mpango au makubaliano yoyote hata kama yatawanufaisha wachache tu. Lakini kwa kawaida msemo huo husemwa  na viongozi kwa matumaini au kama pongezi.

Methali hiyo mara nyingi huhusishwa na John F. Kennedy rais wa Marekani, ambaye aliiitumia katika hotuba yake, mwaka wa 1963 akijitetea baada ya baada ya kukosolewa juu ya ujenzi wa bwawa ulitumia pesa nyingi sana (matumizi ya fujo). Mwandishi wa hotuba za Kennedy (aliyeitwa Ted Sorensen) alifichua kwamba Rais Kennedy alitumia methali hii baada ya kuisoma katika jarida la "New England Council."

Msemo karibu na huu ni "to grow the pie" yaani "kukuza keki" ambayo inamaanisha, kama keki ni kubwa zaidi, washiriki wote watapata keki zaidi hata kama uwiano/asilimia haibadiliki.

Je, unakubali kwamba ustawi mpana wa kiuchumi huwafikia wote?

Widespread economic prosperity typically reaches all citizens of a country or region. A country cannot benefit without all of its citizens somehow benefitting, in the same way that an incoming tide will lift all boats including both the behemoth cruise ships and the tiny canoes.

Occasionally, the adage also may be used when referring to entire groups benefitting from a change in circumstances, particularly an influx of resources that seemingly might reach only individuals. I have heard co-workers respond to their co-workers receiving large sales commissions by saying, "a rising tide lifts all boats," implying that the increase in business for the company will expand the total opportunities for the company (and thus all employees). In this use case, clearly it is understood that the "rising tide" does not lift all boats equally.

Critics of this proverb may dispute its veracity claiming the phrase is erroneously used to justify any type of deal or arrangement that seems to benefit the few, but typically the expression is used with optimism or as a form of mild celebration by leaders, or members of the group themselves.

The proverb is often attributed to John F. Kennedy after he used it in a 1963 speech disputing the claim that a dam construction project had too much pork (wasteful spending). Kennedy's speechwriter (Ted Sorensen) revealed that the New England Council originally used the phrase, which Kennedy borrowed regularly.

A similar phrase is "to grow the pie," which means to make the entire set of opportunities greater, presumably so that everyone can appreciate a larger piece of pie, even if their percentage of the pie does not change.

Do you share the sentiment that broad economic prosperity reaches all?

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. 

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Scottish Gaelic

Umewahi kuona mhunzi akifanya kazi? Au labda ulimwoma fundi akitengeza glass (kioo)? Si ni ajabu sana? (Ukitaka kuona kwa macho yako, tembelea Shanga Foundation Arusha, au tazama videos kwenye links hapo chini - ona Rasilimali).

Katika uzoefu wetu, glasi ni ngumu, yaani haikunji kabisa. Ukitumia nguvu zako zote, kio kitavunjika mkononi mwako na kukuumiza. Lakini hakika kioo hutengenezwa kwa kuyeyusha mchanga, mabichi na laini kama udongo.

Maishani kuna mambo ambayo yanaonekana kuwa magumu, yaani hayabadiliki kabisa, hayapindi. Tukitumia nguvu zetu zote, yataharibika tu na kutuumiza. Lakini fundi mwenye ujuzi anaweza kuyafanya kuwa mepesi na laini, kwa kuyatayarisha ipasavyo, na kuchukua hatua sahihi kwa wakati ufaao.

Methali hii hutumika sana kwa maana "chukua hatua haraka fursa inapotokea, ili usiikose." Kama WaSwahili wanavyosema "Samaki mkunje angali mbichi." Ona pia There is a tide:

Hata hivyo, ikumbukwe kwenye tamthilia hii, ushauri huu ulikuwa na madhara mabaya kwake, maana Buruto hakushinda baada ya hotuba hii (soma zaidi...)

Lugha na tamaduni nyingi zina methali zinazofanana sana na hii. Labda methali hizo zina chimbuko nyingi tofauti zisizotegemeana.