Here are 10 particularly imaginative pearls of wisdom. We have done our best to render these Tunisian proverbs into English, but sometimes one country’s wisdom just doesn’t translate.
10 Very Tunisian Proverbs to Live By
Meeting men is worth treasure
Because life can get tough, and you never know when there is someone else out there who is going to help you out in a difficult situation.
He sells the monkey and makes fun of the one who buys it
One that he sells something does not worth its price or does not deserve to be purchased at all.
Time heals everything
Used to say that feelings of sadness, disappointment, etc., gradually go away as time passes.
Only the one who walks on burning coals would feel it
Only the person who is suffering can really feel the pain.
Every monkey is a gazelle in its mother’s eyes
People are prejudiced, favoring their offspring, their race over all others. It is an admission that morality is relative, if not outright skewed.
When you listen to someone, expect their views to be colored by self-interest and prejudice. The image of a mother monkey tending her baby with love also comes to mind, softening the condemnation of prejudice.
Like salt, he doesn’t miss any meal
One that he does not miss any meal, always present whenever we need him, or not.
Even if he wears a valuable harness, the donkey does not turn into a racehorse
This has a lot of meanings but mostly means that owning valuable items would never make a bad person from inside, a good one.
Show me a virgin whore and I’ll show you an honest politician
Nothing more to explain.
Count on your donkey better than counting on the horse of others
It clearly means how important to rely on yourself and own resources rather than others.
Whoever swears always, is a liar
Who ever swears all the time is most likely, a liar.
Can you think of any more Tunisian words of wisdom? Let us know.
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