Mauritius is an island located in the Indian Ocean. Known for its tranquil beaches, world-class resorts, lagoon and reefs, and Serene environment, the Island takes pride to be one of the most visited travel destinations in Africa. Additionally, Mauritius boasts of its multicultural population bound together by peace and harmony making it a very peaceful country. This article lists some of the most inspiring proverbs from Mauritius. They are used to guide the Mauritius people on how to live with one another in society. Others also teach important life lessons.
Here are the top 40 powerful proverbs from Mauritius:
Top 40 Powerful Proverbs from Mauritius
- You do not give hyena meat to watch over.
- Monkey laughs when the snail dances.
- The cow that bellows do so for all cows.
- When the tropic-bird screams overhead, a storm wind is coming.
- When the cock is before the door, somebody is coming.
- Rulers are like hills; when darkness falls, they all speak alike.
- When a leader changes mood, followers change places of their abode.
- What you lose in the fire, you will find in ashes.
- The chameleon loos in all directions before moving.
- Monkey never watches his own tail, he watches his neighbors.
- When a frog lies on its back, it means something has happened to it.
- A hen cannot lay eggs and hatch them on the same day.
- The cleverness of one alone is a shallow well that soon dries up.
- When a ship is broken (wrecked), the accident does not prevent others from sailing.
- The goat’s business is not the pig’s affair.
- The snake says he doesn’t hate the person who ills him, but the one who calls out, look at the snake!
- Bad leaders are elected by poor citizens who do not vote.
- The bull defending his own head breaks his horns.
- When the head is too big, it cannot dodge blows.
- Young people think that when they grow up they will reach the sky, and touch the stars, but after a while, they realize how far the sky is.
- A person who has not secured a place on the floor should not begin to look for a mat.
- When a cat has been once burned by fire, it is even afraid of ciders.
- A black cat brings money (good luck).
- The she-cat who has a tom-cat put on airs.
- Coal will never make flour.
- Cat’s drinking oil under the table- this Mauritius proverb means that people are making fun at your expense, though you don’t know it.
- Coal will never make flour- You can’t wash a negro white.
- Everybody has his own troubles.
- The roach has come out of the flour barrel- often said to women of color who whiten their faces with rice powder.
- He who kills his own body works for the worms- applicable to those who injure their wealth by excesses.
- It’s the one who holds the Skillet that knows the cost of lard.
- What’s rightly done is never wrongly done- That is to say: Never forget anything done for a good motive.
- He who has a pretty daughter receives plenty of salutes.
- He who once tasted attack never forgets the taste.
- When one sleeps, one doesn’t think about eating.
- He who sulks eats his own bellow.
- Where there is a good bed, there is good housekeeping.
- Blows returned never hurt- vengeance is sweet.
- A new broom’s a clean broom.
- All the women go to confessions nowadays; but they no sooner return from church, than the devil piles more sins upon them.
Other proverbs from Mauritius include:
- All the cooking pots are on the fire now- one man is now good as the other.
- To-day drunk with fun, To-morrow the paddles- Allusion to slavery discipline.
- Wait till the hare’s in the pot before you talk.