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143. Handũ ha njũgũma na ha mũgwĩ hatiganaine
- Literal translation: The place to use the club and the above arrow are not the same.
- English equivalent: Everything has its place.
144. Harĩ mũthuri hatiitangagwo maaĩ
- Literal translation: In the presence of elderly people one must not pour water.
- Contextual note: Nobody is allowed to be foul-mouthed especially when elderly people are present.
- English equivalent: Old age is honourable.
145. Haro nĩ ya mũka ũrĩ ĩhĩĩ
- Literal translation: Quarrelling is peculiar to the woman who has got male children.
- Contextual note: They use the proverb to mean that since sons are more mischievous than daughters, and mothers are more proud of their sons than of their daughters, women are inclined to quarrel to defend or to exalt their sons.
- English equivalent: No mother is so wicked but desires to have good children.
146. Haro nĩ ya mũka ũrĩ thirĩ
- Literal translation: Quarrelling is peculiar to the woman who has debts.
- Contextual note: A woman in debt is quarrelsome.
147. Hĩta itanakĩra
- Literal translation: Resist the beginnings.
- English equivalent: Small faults indulged are little thieves that let in great.
148. Hinga ndĩkinyaga iraka
- Literal translation: A wily person does not walk on dry leaves (for they would betray his presence).
149. Hinya ndũigana ũrũme
- Literal translation: Strength does not correspond with courage.
150. Hinya ndũrĩ indo
- Literal translation: Strength has nothing.
- Contextual note: Strong people are not necessarily rich people.
151. Hiti ciathiĩ mbwe ciegangara
- Literal translation: When hyenas go away jackals rejoice.
- English equivalent: Little dogs begin to eat when big ones have eaten enough.
152. Hiti ĩtaga ĩrĩa ĩngĩ ya mũtĩrĩ
- Literal translation: The hyena calls another hyena worse than itself.
- English equivalent: The pot calling the kettle black.
153. Hiti yugaga arũme nĩ ogĩ, monaga gĩcinga ngwatĩro
- Literal translation: Hyena says that men are wise because they know how to hold a firebrand.
- Contextual note: A story told by the Kikuyu says that one night a hyena entered a hut to eat the goats. The owner wakened by the noise, took hold of a firebrand to scare it out. The beast tried top do the same, but not knowing how to handle firebrands it scorched its paws.
- English equivalent: There is a right and a wrong way of doing everything.
154. Hiti ndĩrĩaga mwana, na mũĩ ũrĩa ĩrĩ ngoroku
- Literal translation: The hyena does not eat its baby, and you know how insatiable it is.
- English equivalent: No mother is so wicked but loves her children.
155. Hũngũ ireraga harĩa mbũri ĩrathĩnjĩrwo
- Literal translation: Vultures arrive at the place where the goat is slaughtered.
- English equivalent: Where the carcase is, the ravens will gather.
156. Hũngũ ĩgĩthiĩ igũrũ ndĩatigire thĩ kũrĩ kwega
- Literal translation: The vulture perches on the trees because it does not feel sure on the ground.
157. Hũni nene ĩgĩraga hũhita
- Literal translation: To eat much leaves you with a swollen belly.
- English equivalent: Enough is as good as a feast.
158. Hururu ĩthekaga rwaro
- Literal translation: The abyss laughs at the plain.
- English equivalent: Every man thinks his own geese swans.
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