(Proverbs or Sayings)
Collected by T. Zokhai, 2005: Semanyih Detention Camp
(khenkhat sinpak tawng-ei)
What was hard to hear is sweet to remember (Portuguese)
(Zaak meengmeengloh thute ciapteh ding-a akhumte ahihi).
Once I had the strength but no wisdom; now I have the wisdom but no strength (Persian)
(Hunkhat laai-in thatang nei-in pilna ka-nei kei-hi; tu’n pilna nei-in thatang ka-nei kei-hi).
Man betrays his friend for money (Hebrews)
(Mihing-in sum’ading-in alawmpa lehheek-hi).
A bad ploughman quarrels with his oxen (Korean)
(Asia zaanglokhopa abawngtalte-tawh kitawng-hi).
A people without sense will be ruined (Hebrews)
(Zialehtong neilo minam kisiacip dinghi).
Success has many fathers, while failure is a lonely orphan (English)
(Lawhcinna-in pa tampi aneih laai-in, lawhsapna ahihleh tagah-hi).
His brains hang at the top of his fez (Lebanese)
(A’lukhusan dawn-ah akhuak kikhaai: lukhusan-pen Ottoman Empire hunlaai-in akipaakpih mahmah-uh hi-a; apilna leh atheihna sang-in tua lukhusan neihna kiphatsakpih zaw-uh cihna ahihi).
Do not put your spoon into the pot which does not boil for you (Romanian)
(Nang’ading-a akisuang ahilo beel sung-ah na’siikkeu koih kei in).
You can’t stop bird flying over your head, but you can stop them nesting in your beard (Chinese)
(Na’ tung-a leeng vasa na-khaam theikei-hi, na’ khamul-ah butom ding pan-in na-khaam thei-hi).
Fashion is more powerful than any tyrant (Latin)
(Thuneihna leencip ukpi gilo khatpeuh’ sang-in kiimlehpaam-tawh akituak zialehtong thahaatzaw-hi).
Do well the little things now; so shall great things come to thee by and by asking to be done (Persian)
(Aneu nate tu’n bawl-hoih in; anungciang-in athupi nate na-bawl ding-in hongki cial dinghi).
The pumpkin gives birth and the fence has the trouble (Morrocan)
(Maai honggah-a, buaina ahihleh daai-in thuak-hi).
He who has health has hope; and he who has hope has everything (Arabian)
(Cidamna anei mi-in lametna nei-a; lametna anei mi-in nakhempeuh nei-hi).
The greatest love is a mother’s, then a dog’s, then a sweetheart’s (Polish)
(Alianpen itna-in tuunnu’a hi-a, tuateh ui’a, tuateh ngaihno’a ahihi).
The bigger a man’s head, the worse his headache (Persian)
(Alungtang agol seemleh lutangnatna lian seem-hi).
It is better to walk fast than to grow angry at the forest (Senegalese)
(Gammaangtulak-ah heh photphot ding sang-in nawhpai meengmeeng ding hoihzaw).
Even your bun on your own head can become your enemy (ancient Zomi)
(Deeklam tuktum-zong gaal suak-thei).
After the game, the king and the pawn go into the same box (Italian)
(Kimawlna aman ciang-in kumpi leh gaalkaapno a singkuang khatmah-ah pai uhhi: Chess kimawl hunsung kumpi leh gaalkaapno azaliatna kilamdang taleh kimawl aman ciang-in akibang hi-uh).
Righteousness exalts a nation (probably: King Solomon)
(Thumaanna-in minam tawisaang-hi).
Leitung-in aciapteh mimal kampaute
Love for money is the root of all kinds of evil (St. Paul the Tarsus: Pasian’ Naseem)
(Sum itna-pen siatna namcinte’ zungpi ahihi).
Sin is a reversal of God’s order (John RW Stott: Khazihmi Laigelhsiampi)
(Mawhna cihpen Pasian’ thupiak-tawh kikeelkiitna ahihi).
Success in marriage is not finding the right person but becoming the right person (John S. Piper: Former Chancellor – Minneapolis USA)
(Kiteenna lawhcinna cihpen mi-maan zonna muhna hilo-in mi-maan suahna hizaw: Kopih akilawm akituak zonna/muhna hilo, koppih akilawm akituak suahna).
Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it (Confucius)
(Nakhempeuh-in meelhoihna nei-a, mikim-in mu kimlo-hi).
Honesty is probably the sexiest thing a man can give a woman (Debra Lynn Messing: Limhingliapaal in Esquire)
(Lungsianna-pen numei khat tung-ah pasal khat-in apiak-theih alimci-penpen na-khat hikha dinghi).
Hollywood is a place where they will pay you a thousand dollars for a kiss and 50 cent for your soul (Marilyn Monroe: Limhingliapaal)
(Hollywood-pen tawp-khat $ 1,000 hong piading uh-a, na’ kha ading haamu hong kipiakna mun ahihi).
My real responsibility is to bring light to the world and make the world a better place (Madona: Limhingliapaal & Lasiamminluun)
(Ka’ mawhpuak maantak-pen leitung-ah khuavaak puakding, leitung mun hoihzaw khat-a bawlding ahihi).
Man is what he believes (Anton Chekhov, Russian Laigelhsiampi)
(Pasal cihteh ama’ up thu/na ahihi: bang um ahihiam., up neilote mi hilo cihnopna).
Doubt is your worst enemy and must be avoided at all cost (Shahreen Kamaluddin: Laigelhsiampi)
(Lunghianna-in na’ gaal siapenpen-hi, na’hihtheihtawp-in pelh in).
A man was born not only for himself but also for others (Zokhai: kei’ thuciin 3 hong behlap puutsaat ning-e hehehehee)
(Pasal khat-pen ama’ading bek-a suak hilo-in midangte’ading-azong asuak ahihi).
If you are righteous then your friends may leave you alone, but continue to be righteous for your eternal reward is waiting for you (Zokhai)
(Na-thumaanleh na’ lawmte-in hong nusia khading-hi, ahizong-in thumaan-ding zomto in banghanghiam cihleh tawntung pahtaaksilpiak-in nang hongngak-hi).
Justice is trampled while injustice is exalted (Zokhai)
(Thutanlohna aki tawisaang laai-in thutanna kituancip-hi).
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