Libyan Proverbs

The naked man in the caravan

                                                       has peace of mind. He whose covering

belongs to others is uncovered.

                           He who has luck will have the winds

                                                                                  blow him his firewood.

He whose trousers are made of dry grass should not warm himself at

      the fire.

He howled before going mad.

                                                           He led the lion by the ear.

Like the sparrow, he wanted to imitate

                                                             the pigeon’s walk but lost his own.

Walk with sandals till you get good shoes.

                                        Where the turban moves, there moves

the territory. Men meet

                           but mountains don’t. Always taking out

                                                 without giving back, even the mountains

                  will be broken down. Penny piled on penny

will make a heap. Only the unlucky coin

                                 is left in the purse. As long as a human being lives

he will learn.

                                       Learn to shave by shaving orphans.

He who is to be hanged can insult the Pasha.

                                             In the house of a man who has been hanged

don’t talk of rope.

The small donkey is the one that everybody rides.

                                      Fish eat fish

                                                        and he who has no might dies.

                                                                        My belly before my children.