Kikuyu: Njogu ni gacuhura
"The beer is a thing that
unties (the tongue)."
When the wine is in the wit is out.
Kikuyu: Ndukanine nduma mbira
"Do not make home affairs
known."
Do not wash dirty linen in public.
Kikuyu: Nduma ndihitithagia mugia mbere
"Darkness shows no wrong path
to him who gets what he wants before dark."
Early to bed, early to rise, make a man healthy, wealthy and wise.
Kikuyu: Mucukani ndari mucii mwega
"A slanderer has no peaceful
home."
Slander flings stones at itself.
Kikuyu: Ndeto njega ni iria njrane
"Good words are those spoken
of common accord."
The proverb means both:
'Friendship is friendship and business is business'
and
'A word is enough to the wise'
Kikuyu: Mageria nomo mahota
"Trial means success."
Where there is a will, there is a way.
Kikuyu: Kugera mugathi ti gutinia
"To tell the beads is not to
cut the thread."
Do not judge men or things at first sight.
Kikuyu: Guota mwaki ni gucera
"To get the warmth of fire
one must stir the embers."
No gains without pains.
Kikuyu: Guthimba ti kuura
"Having rain clouds is not
the same as having rain."
Don't cry herrings till they are in the net.
Kikuyu: Ugi ukirite hinya
"Wisdom outweighs
strength."
