Gikuyu Proverbs N

N

652. Narua, mũgogo ũtanatendera

• • Literal translation: Haste, before the trunk bridge becomes slippery.
  • Contextual note: It must be borne in mind that native bridges consist of only one trunk spanning the two banks of the river. Hence passing such bridges in wet weather is dangerous.

653. Nda ĩmwe yumaga muici na mũrogi

• • Literal translation: The same womb gives birth to a thief and a poisoner.

654. Nda ĩrũgĩte ita

• • Literal translation: The belly is more important than war.

655. Nda ti mũtwe.

• • Literal translation: The belly is not a head.
  • Contextual note: Into the head you can put as many things as you know without filling it, but you cannot do the same with your belly.

656. Ndakũrama kĩnganga nawe wanama kĩngware?

• • Literal translation: I gave you the beauty of a guinea fowl and you give me the beauty of a francolin.
  • Contextual note: The proverb originates in the following fable. Once upon a time the guinea fowl wanting to dance, called upon the francolin to have its feathers dressed. The francolin, hoping to have the same favour returned by the guinea fowl, assented. But the latter taking as an excuse of its laziness that the dance was about to begin, left the other bird in the lurch. This is why the guinea fowl has now got much finer plumage than the francolin.
  • English equivalent: To do good to the ungrateful is to throw rose-water into the sea.

657. Ndaregirwo nĩ ikere ta njagathi ĩkĩregwo nĩ guoya

• • Literal translation: I have no calves as lizards have got no hair.
  • Contextual note: Well shaped calves are supposed by the Kikuyu to add a great deal to one's beauty: therefore they are much appreciated.
  • English equivalent: As poor as a church mouse.

659. Ndaya ĩkinyia

• • Literal translation: The long road arrives (at the goal).
  • Contextual note: The proverb means that a long but sure way, is better than a short but dangerous one.
  • English equivalent: Fair and softly goes far in a day.

660. Ndegwa nyinyi ĩhaicaga ng'ombe na mũtwe

• • Literal translation: The young bull mounts the cows from the head.
  • English equivalent: Young is the goose that will not eat oats.

661. Ndeto itimataga ta iria

• • Literal translation: Sentences do not curdle like milk.
  • English equivalent: Words and feathers are tossed by the wind.

662. Ndeto njega nĩ iria njĩrane

• • Literal translation: Good words are those spoken of common accord.
  • Contextual note: The proverb means both:
  • English equivalent: 'Friendship is friendship and business is business' and 'A word is enough to the wise'.

663. Ndĩa kahora ĩgĩaga gũkameria

• • Literal translation: The animal that eats slowly can swalllow well.
  • English equivalent: He that goes softly, goes safely.

664. Ndĩakagwo ta ya wakinĩ

• • Literal translation: Nobody is forced to build his hut on the pattern of his 'wakinĩ'.
  • Contextual note: 'Wakinĩ' is a person circumcised at the same time--somebody of the same age-group.
  • English equivalent: Every one to his own taste.

665. Ndĩani ndĩkinyaga iraka

• • Literal translation: The thief does not tread on dry leaves (for they would betray his presence).

666. Ndĩambaga na magua

• • Literal translation: The bee does not begin with the comb.
  • English equivalent: A good beginning makes a good ending.

667. Ndĩgũre: Konyũ kegũra nĩ komirie ikwa

• • Literal translation: Humble yourself: the inhabitants of Konyu were able to grow yams after humbling themselves.
  • Contextual note: The proverb originates in the legend that the people of Konyu, a place in the Kikuyu country, who had been at war with their neighbours of Mathira, ceased to be raided and could till their fields in peace, only by submitting.
  • English equivalent: He makes a good war that makes good peace.

668. Ndĩkũraga na mĩgiria

• • Literal translation: The ox does not become old with strong muscles.
  • Contextual note: The proverb means that man cannot expect to age and retain the vigour of his youth.

669. Ndĩrĩ ndĩiyũragĩra kũrĩa ĩkũgaragario

• • Literal translation: The mortar is not filled with juice in the place where it is rolled.
  • Contextual note: The proverb means that anything is found useful only in that place and by those people who are in need of it.
  • English equivalent: Everything is good in its own season.

670. Ndĩrĩ njega ndĩringanaga na mũthĩ mwega

• • Literal translation: A good mortar never meets a good pestle.
  • Contextual note: The proverb means that a good wife rarely meets a good husband and vice versa.

671. Ndia ngiri yanina andũ

• • Literal translation: Still water has finished many men.
  • English equivalent: Beware of a silent dog and silent water.

672. Ndikwenda wĩngwatĩrĩre ta kĩeha

• • Literal translation: I do not want you to stick on to me like beard moss (sticks on the tree).
  • English equivalent: Live and let live.

673. Ndithũire mũnyoni ta mũnyanĩrĩri

• • Literal translation: I do not hate him who sees me so much as him who reveals me, i.e. my faults.
  • English equivalent: Nobody is willing to acknowledge he is in fault.

674. Nditikũ na magũmĩ, o kũrĩa mũgaitanĩrĩra

• • Literal translation: Nditikũ and Magũmĩ (go) to the place where you can agree.
  • Contextual note: Nditikũ and Magũmĩ are metaphorical names used to mean two quarrelsome people. The proverb is told to disagreeable people, who though warned do not stop their strife.
  • English equivalent: He that cuts himself willingly deserves no balsam.

675. Ndiunĩkaga thondu

• • Literal translation: It is not the meagre (but the fat) ox that breaks its leg.
  • English equivalent: Misfortunes seldom come alone.

676. Ndonga nanu ĩrũgĩtwo nĩ mũkarĩ

• • Literal translation: A rich evil-doer is worse than a miser

677. Ndonga imwe ndĩhingaga iriũko

• • Literal translation: One rich man cannto close the ford; i.e. cannot do all he would.
  • English equivalent: No living man all things can.

678. Ndũgate kũgũrũ ta nyakĩnyua

• • Literal translation: Do not give your foot the position which 'Nyakĩnua' gives.
  • Contextual note: 'Nyakĩnyua' is used to mean old women, who often sit unbecomingly.

679. Ndũgĩra na kaigwa kayo

• • Literal translation: Every little hole of the ear has its little thorn.
  • Contextual note: The Kikuyu used to put little sticks or thorns in the pierced upper part of the ear.
  • English equivalent: Every sparrow to its ear of wheat.

680. Ndũgetange ta kĩhĩa kĩa mũcaĩ

• • Literal translation: Do not torment yourself as you torment the seeds of the broom-tree (which you scatter everywhere without any regard).

681. Ndũgũ ĩrutagwo njĩra

• • Literal translation: Friendship begins with meeting at the road.

682. Ndũgũ nĩ makinya

• • Literal translation: Friendship is steps, i.e. it consists in going to see one another.
  • English equivalent: Friendship consists in visiting friends.

683. Ndũgũ nyingĩ ithatagia mũhuko

• • Literal translation: Many friends make one's pocket empty.
  • English equivalent: Friends are pick-pockets.

684. Ndũgũ ya mwana ĩmatagio nĩ nyina

• • Literal translation: The friendship of the son is strengthened by his mother.
  • English equivalent: Children's joys are parents' toys.

685. Ndũire nyiki ta mũrogi

• • Literal translation: I live alone like a poisoner.
  • Contextual note: The proverb illustrates the Kikuyu's dislike for poisoners and wizards.

686. Ndũirio nĩ mata ta thua

• • Literal translation: I live on saliva like a flea.
  • English equivalent: To live from hand to mouth.

687. Ndũkagerekanie gĩkuũ na toro

• • Literal translation: Do not compare death with sleep (because they are not the same).

688. Ndũkamenyithie wa itara

• • Literal translation: Do not make home affairs known.
  • English equivalent: Do not wash dirty linen in public.

689. Ndũkanine ndũma mbira

• • Literal translation: Do not finish the small 'ndũma'.
  • Contextual note: 'Ndũma are the tubers of an edible arum much cultivated in Kikuyu. The proverb means that one must dig out only the big tubers and leave the small ones to grow new plants.
  • English equivalent: Enjoy the present but think also of the future.

690. Ndũkanũmĩrĩre ta njũũ na ngigĩ

• • Literal translation: Do not follow me as the 'njũũ' follows the locusts.
  • Contextual note: 'Njũũ' is the name of a kind of passerine bird, which follows locusts to feed on them.
  • English equivalent: God deliver you from a false friend.

691. Ndũra ĩciaraga mĩigwa

• • Literal translation: The 'ndũra' gives forth nothing but thorns.
  • Contextual note: 'Ndũra' is the name of a thorny tree. The proverb means:
  • English equivalent: One cannot gather figs from thistles.

692. Nduma ndĩhĩtithagia mũthiĩ mbere

• • Literal translation: Darkness shows no wrong path to him who gets what he wants before dark.
  • English equivalent: Early to bed, early to rise, make a man healthy, wealthy and wise.

693. Ndumumu ndĩonagi ĩngĩ njĩra

• • Literal translation: A blind man does not show another blind man the way.
  • English equivalent: Do the blind lead the blind? Do they not both fall into the ditch?

694.Ndundu ya mwana na nyina ndĩringagĩrĩrio

• • Literal translation: It is not fair to attempt to penetrate mother and son's secrets.

695. Ndurumo igĩrĩ itiguanaga ikĩgamba

• • Literal translation: Two noisy waterfalls cannot agree (in their tune).
  • English equivalent: Two of a trade seldom agree.

696. Ndutura ĩrumaga ĩrorete gĩtara kĩayo

• • Literal translation: The turtle-dove coos when it has seen its nest
  • English equivalent: Every bird likes its own nest best.

697. Nĩ hiti mũgambĩre

• • Literal translation: It is the hyena that howls.
  • Contextual note: The proverb is applied to boisterous people.
  • English equivalent: Barking dogs seldom bite.

698. Nĩ itumaga na itirue

• • Literal translation: One can sing the song which precedes the circumcission and not be circumcissed.
  • English equivalent: Man proposes, God disposes.

699. Nĩ mũiguanĩte ta gĩkwa na mũkũngũgũ

• • Literal translation: You agree like the yam and the tree to which it clings.
  • English equivalent: to be like David and Jonathan

700. Nĩ gũkaga mũkĩra mwĩte

• • Literal translation: Somebody may come in higher in dignity than he who was firstly invited.
  • Contextual note: The proverb has almost the same meaning as the words of the Gospel: When thou art invited to a wedding sit not down in the first seats at the table, lest perhaps one more honourable than thou be invited by him'; etc.
  • English equivalent: Humility often gains more than pride.

701. Nĩ ngingo ĩtindaga ĩrĩ theri ti nda

• • Literal translation: It is the neck that stays without ornament, but not the belly (without food).

702. Ngaita itirĩagĩrwo kwenda

• • Literal translation: The 'ngaita' is not eaten unless there is a reason.
  • Contextual note: 'Ngaita' is the very bitter fruit of a shrub, which is taken as an antihelmintic.
  • English equivalent: Medicines are not meat to live on.

703. Ng'aragu ya mũndũ ũngĩ ndĩngĩgiria ngome

• • Literal translation: Other people's hunger does not hinder me from sleeping.

704. Ngarari nĩ gĩthũria kĩa mbaara

• • Literal translation: Arguments are the source of strifes.
  • English equivalent: It takes two to make a quarrel.

705. Ngarari nĩ kamena

• • Literal translation: Discord breeds scorn.

706. Ngarĩ ndĩoĩ gũkunya nĩ kuonio yonirio

• • Literal translation: The leopard did not know how to seize its prey: it was taught.
  • Contextual note: The Kikuyu say that when the leopard began to kill goats, it did not know how to seize them to kill. One day frightened by the shepherd, it had to leave its prey badly wounded though not killed. From the tree where it had taken refuge it heard the shepherd say: "What luck! Had my goat been seized by the neck, it would be already dead'.

707. Ngatho ĩthingatagio ĩngĩ

• • Literal translation: One kindness prepares for another.
  • English equivalent: One good turn deserves another.

708. Ngatia ciathiĩ hiti cĩeragara

• • Literal translation: When lions have gone, hyenas dance.
  • English equivalent: When the cat is away, the mice will play.

709. Ngemi ciumaga ndĩrĩ-inĩ

• • Literal translation: The woman's trills are shouted at the mortar.
  • Contextual note: The proverb refers to the songs and shouts of the women crushing the sugar cane to be brewed; and means that such songs are sung only on that occasion.
  • English equivalent: Everything has its time.

710. Ng'enda thĩ ndĩagaga mũtegi

• • Literal translation: The animal that treads on the earth may find its trapper.
  • Contextual note: The proverb means:
  • English equivalent: 'To err is human'.

711. Ngĩa na mũigwa itikomaga

• • Literal translation: The poor and the thorn do not sleep.
  • Contextual note: The former, say the Kikuyu, is kept awake by his anxieties whilst the latter is always on the alert in order to sting anyone who happens to touch it.
  • English equivalent: Poverty breeds strife.

712. Ngĩa yethagwo mũkuha wayo

• • Literal translation: The poor man is robbed even of his awl.
  • English equivalent: The poor man turns his cake, and another comes and takes it away.

713. Ngi ĩmwe yoragia mũgũgũta

• • Literal translation: One fly spoils an ox-hide.
  • English equivalent: A little leak will sink a great ship.

714. Ngi ndĩrĩ rũga

• • Literal translation: The fly has no sinew.
  • English equivalent: You cannot make a silk purse from a sow's ear.

715. Ngi ĩrahtagwo ũigana mũkiha ũrĩa ĩrĩ naguo.

• • Literal translation: The fly is bled proportionately to its veins.
  • English equivalent: If you squeeze a cork, you will get but little juice.

716. Ngingo ndĩkĩraga mũtwe

• • Literal translation: The neck does not grow above the head.
  • English equivalent: Everything to its place.

717. Ngingo ya mũrĩa-ng'ũrũ nĩ gĩthitũ na rũrigi

• • Literal translation: The neck of him who sells too dear, is all amulets and necklaces (for nobody buys from him).
  • English equivalent: All covet, all lose.

718. Ng'ombe itionagwo nĩ ithayo

• • Literal translation: Oxen are not found through laziness.
  • English equivalent: Laziness travels so slowly that poverty soon overtakes it.

719. Ng'ombe yahithio njau ĩkamagĩrwo ikaya

• • Literal translation: When the cow is left to the care of a man who is not the owner, the calves are suckled only when they cry.
  • English equivalent: Look to the cow, the sow, and the wheat mow, and all will be well now.

720. Ngoro ĩrĩaga kĩrĩa ĩkwenda

• • Literal translation: The heart eats what it likes.
  • English equivalent: Love is blind.

721. Ngoro nĩ mũrũ wa nyina na mũndũ

• • Literal translation: Every man's brother is his heart.
  • English equivalent: Few hearts that are not double, few tongues that are not cloves.

722. Ngoro nĩ mũtitũ mũtumanu na ndũngĩtonyeka nĩ mũndũ

• • Literal translation: The heart is a thick forest which cannot be penetrated by anybody.
  • English equivalent: What is in one's heart man's eyes see not.

723. Ngoro ndĩrumaga tũhũ

• • Literal translation: The heart does not curse for nothing.
  • Contextual note: The proverb means that one does not repine nor swear at another without a reason.
  • English equivalent: Everything has its reason.

724. Ngoro itiumanĩire ta njĩra

• • Literal translation: Hearts do not meet (converge) like roads.
  • English equivalent: Eat a peck of salt with a man before you trust him.

725. Ngũgũtũ ya gwĩthurĩra ndĩrĩ gacere

• • Literal translation: The beads one has chosen have no imperfection.
  • English equivalent: Every man thinks his own geese swans.

726. Ngũkũ ya maguta nĩ ĩikagĩrio

• • Literal translation: (Even) drinking liquid fat comes to an end.
  • Contextual note: Liquid fat of animals is esteemed a dainty by the Kikuyu.
  • English equivalent: All good things come to an end.

727. Ngũngũni ĩreragĩra rũkũ-inĩ

• • Literal translation: The bedbug prospers on a piece of wood.
  • English equivalent: There is a special providence in the fall of a sparrow.

728. Ngũri ndĩgayagwo

• • Literal translation: The beard pincers are not inherited.
  • Contextual note: It must be remembered that the Kikuyu did not shave but pull the beard with pincers forged by native black-smiths. The proverb means that there are some things which are so personal that the father does not bequeath them to his son: he has to get his own.

729. Ngumo ndĩigana mwene

• • Literal translation: The fame is never up to its owner's merit.
  • English equivalent: He that does good for praise only, meriteth but a puff of wind.

730. Nguo njega ndĩikagio rũtamĩ

• • Literal translation: To good clothes no ornaments is added.
  • English equivalent: Good coral needs no colouring.

731. Ngwa mbere ti noru ta ngwa thutha

• • Literal translation: The first fall is not as bad as the second fall.
  • English equivalent: Every man's tale is good till another's is told.

732. Ngwacĩ itigathagwo rĩenjero

• • Literal translation: Potatoes are not praised when they are dug out (but when they are eaten).
  • English equivalent: The proof of the pudding is in the eating.

733. Ngware ĩkĩrara mũtĩ igũrũ ndĩatigire thĩ kũrĩ kwega

• • Literal translation: The francolin sleeps on a tree because it is not all right on the ground (and on a tree it feels safer).
  • English equivalent: Everyone knows his business best.

734. Ngware ndĩũragagĩrwo nja

• • Literal translation: The francolin is not killed in the courtyard.
  • Contextual note: According to Kikuyu superstition to kill a francolin found on one's courtyard brings in misfortune. If anybody has done it, he must slaughter a goat to propitiate the spirits.
  • English equivalent: There is a measure in all things.

735. Ngware nyinyi ĩrĩ na mũhurĩrie wayo

• • Literal translation: The little francolin has its way of scratching.
  • English equivalent: Every man his way.

736. Njamba ĩgũaga na ĩngĩ

• • Literal translation: A hero dies with the other.
  • Contextual note: The proverb refers to the days of war before the advent of Europeans, when warriors went together to plunder and were bound to win or die together.

737. Njamba imwe ndĩhingaga iriũko

• • Literal translation: One strong man only cannot close the ford of a river.
  • English equivalent: No living man all things can.

738. Njamba ndĩrĩagwo nĩ wĩra

• • Literal translation: A strong man is not overpowered by his task.
  • English equivalent: He that endures is not overcome.

739. Njamba ndĩrumaga imera igĩrĩ

• • Literal translation: A powerful man does not domineer two seasons.
  • English equivalent: Nothing that is violent is permanent.

740. Njamba nĩ ithaga rĩa rika

• • Literal translation: A strong man is the ornament of his age-group.

741. Njamba ti ikere

• • Literal translation: Strength does not dwell in the calves of the legs.
  • Contextual note: The proverb means that one's strength does not dwell in one's appearance, but rather in mind and virtue.

742. Njaũ ĩrĩ ndoge nyina nĩ ndoge.

• • Literal translation: If the calf has been poisoned, also its mother has been (for they ordinarily eat the same food).
  • English equivalent: Like father like son.

743. Njeterera ndĩkinyaga

• • Literal translation: He who waits does not arrive.
  • English equivalent: Never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today.

744. 'Njĩka na njĩka ndĩrĩ' marũrũ

• • Literal translation: 'Do to me and do to me' have no bitterness.
  • Contextual note: The proverb means that a person cannot complain on receiving from others the same kind of treatment as he had given to them.

745. Njĩra ndĩrag mũgendi hurũka

• • Literal translation: The road never says to the traveller, 'Take a rest'.

746. Njĩra nguhĩ no ya ũrĩrĩ

• • Literal translation: A short way is only the way to bed.
  • Contextual note: The proverb is told when one wants to cut short a discussion, or when one wants a whole night to reflect before making up one's mind.
  • English equivalent: Consult with your pillow.

747. Njogu ndĩremagwo nĩ mĩguongo yayo

• • Literal translation: The elephant is not overpowered by its tusks.

748. Njohi nĩ gacuhũra

• • Literal translation: The beer is a thing that unties (the tongue).
  • English equivalent: When the wine is in the wit is out.

749. Njoya na mũthece ndĩoyagĩra ĩngĩ

• • Literal translation: A bird that picks food with the beak does not collect food for another bird.

750. Njũkĩ ndĩrĩ mboora igĩrĩ

• • Literal translation: The bee has not got two stings.
  • Contextual note: The proverb is told to greedy people, who when given something are not satisfied and want more.
  • English equivalent: Much wants more.

751. Njũgũma ya njamba ĩthukagĩrio ũgeni-inĩ

• • Literal translation: A strong man's club is tested by foreigners.
  • Contextual note: The proverb means that it is foreigners who actually test the strength of a man, for they dare measure themselves with him. Whilst the people who live with him, judging his strength as a thing beyond any doubt, are afraid of testing it.
  • English equivalent: The proof of a pudding is in the eating.

752. Njukũ irũgĩte rũũĩ rũiyũru

• • Literal translation: Slander is worse than a river in flood.
  • English equivalent: The most dangerous of wild beasts is a slanderer, of tame ones a flatterer

753. Njukũ nĩ mĩgathĩ ya itonga

• • Literal translation: Calumnies are (as plentiful as) rich people's beads.

754. Nyamũ ngũrũ ndĩhatagwo maaĩ

• • Literal translation: An old ox is not refused water.
  • English equivalent: Old age is honourable.

755. Nyama njũru ĩroragwo na kanua

• • Literal translation: Bad meat is tasted with the mouth.
  • English equivalent: The proof of the pudding is in the eating.

756. Nyamacũcũ, kanua nĩ koinagĩrwo ithĩgĩ

• • Literal translation: Woman, remember that the mouth is sometimes covered with a branch.
  • English equivalent: A woman cannot keep a secret.

757. Nyanja ĩmwe ndĩtĩragia itega One gourd (of beer) does not stop the gift.

• • Contextual note: The Kikuyu used to send their relations and friends presents of native beer in gourds. The proverb means that the breaking of one gourd in transit does not prevent the delivery of the others.

758. Nyanja nguhĩ ndĩtegaga

• • Literal translation: A short gourd (of beer) is not give as a present.
  • English equivalent: A slight gift small thanks.

759. Nyeki ya nja ndĩrĩkaga

• • Literal translation: The grass of the courtyard is not eaten.
  • Contextual note: The proverb means that oxen do not eat the grass growing near their pen, for they know it has been fertilized by their droppings. But the oxen which come from another pen and have no reason for loathing such good pasture feed on it with delight. The proverb is applied to the girls who ordinarily are not loved by young men of their village, to whom the girls of other places look handsomer.
  • English equivalent: Never a prophet was valued in his own country.

760. Nyitĩra na nginyĩrĩra ti ĩmwe

• • Literal translation: To possess and to send for is not the same.
  • English equivalent: There is many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip.

761. Nyoko ndĩtugaga

• • Literal translation: Beauty does no good.
  • English equivalent: Beauty may have fair leaves, yet bitter fruit.

762. Nyoneka narua yũraga narua

• • Literal translation: What is found quickly, is quickly lost.
  • English equivalent: Quick come, quick lost.

763. Nyoni kĩrimũ yakaga irigũ ikũrũ igũrũ ĩtoĩ rĩatemwo

• • Literal translation: The foolish bird nests on an old banana tree and does not know that it will be cut down.
  • English equivalent: A fool always comes short of his reckoning.

764. Nyoni yakaga nyũmba na mũthece ũmwe

• • Literal translation: The bird makes its nest only with one beak.
  • English equivalent: God never sends mouths but He sends meat.

765. Nyota wa gĩkuũ ndũnyotokagwo

• • Literal translation: Death's thirst is never quenched.
  • English equivalent: There is no medicine against death.

766. Nyũmba ĩkĩhĩa mwene nĩ otaga.

• • Literal translation: If the hut burns, its owner gets warm.

767. Nyũmba ĩrindagĩra magothe

• • Literal translation: The house covers many things.
  • English equivalent: There is not always good cheer where the chimney smokes.

768. Nyũmba na rika itiumagwo

• • Literal translation: The clan and 'rika' cannot be canceled.
  • Contextual note: People initiated in a particular season are banded together in an age group and are said to be of the same 'rika'. They are supposed to be obliged to help one another, like the members of the same clan.

769. Nyũmba ndĩgukumagio ikũmbĩ

• • Literal translation: A granary cannot be pushed into a hut.
  • English equivalent: Don't bite off more than you can chew.

770. Nyũmba nyinyi ĩciraga ũtukũ

• • Literal translation: The little house discusses its affairs by night (because they are not worth discussion by day with waste of time).

771. Nyũmba nyinyi yoragana yathama, yoragwo yathama

• • Literal translation: If a member of a small family is killed or kills another, the family moves (since it may be unable to defend itself).

772. Nyũngũ ĩrugaga na ndĩrĩe

• • Literal translation: The pot cooks the food and does not eat it.
  • English equivalent: Bees that make honey, do not taste it.

773. Nyũngũ ya gana ndĩmeraga

• • Literal translation: A rotten gourd seed does not germinate.
  • English equivalent: Immoral people seldom get offspring.

774. Nyũngũ ya maguta ndĩkuaga

• • Literal translation: The pot in which fat is stored does not break (for it is well fed).

775. Nyũngũ ya mũingĩ ndĩagaga mũteng'ũri

• • Literal translation: The cooking pot from which many people await their food, does not lack him who takes it from the fire.
  • Contextual note: In like way, the problem in which many people are interested, will have one able to solve it.