_Poverty_
A poor man has no friends.
He who has no house has no word in society.

_Riches_
Property is the prop of life.
A wealthy man always has followers.

_Sleep_
Sleep has no favorites.

_Strife_
Strife begets a gentle child.

_Sun_
The sun is the king of torches.

_Trade_
Trade is not something imaginary or descriptive, but something real
and profitable.

_Truth_
Lies, however numerous, will be caught by truth when it rises up.
The voice of truth is easily known.

_Unselfishness_
If you love yourself others will hate you, if you humble yourself
others will love you.

_Valor_
Boasting at home is not valor; parade is not battle; when war comes
the valiant will be known.
The fugitive never stops to pick the thorn from his foot.

_Wisdom_
A man may be born to wealth, but wisdom comes only with length of days.
A man with wisdom is better off than a stupid man with any amount of
charms and superstition.
Know thyself better than he who speaks of thee.
Not to know is bad, not to wish to know is worse.
A counsellor who understands proverbs soon sets matters right.

PROVERBS BASED ON THE OBSERVATION OF ANIMALS

_Butterfly_
The butterfly that brushes against thorns will tear its wings.

_Dog_
If the dog is not at home, he barks not.
A heedless dog will not do for the chase.
A lurking dog does not lie in the hyena's lair.

_Elephant_
He who can not move an ant, and yet tries to move an elephant, shall
find out his folly.
The elephant does not find his trunk heavy.
Were no elephant in the jungle, the buffalo would be a great animal.

_Fly_
If the fly flies, the frog goes not supperless to bed.

_Fox_
When the fox dies, fowls do not mourn.

_Goat_
When the goat goes abroad, the sheep must run.

_Rat_
When the rat laughs at the cat, there is a hole.
The rat has not power to call the cat to account.
The rat does not go to sleep in the cat's bed.

_Wolf_
He who goes with the wolf will learn to howl.

A. O. STAFFORD

FOOTNOTE:

[1] Among the works which have been consulted in the preparation of this
article are the following:
R. F. Burton, Wit and Wisdom from West Africa.
S. W. Koelle, African Native Literature.
A. B. Ellis, The Yoruba Speaking Peoples of the Slave Coast of West
Africa.
Heli C