Truth
    Lies, however numerous, will be caught by truth when it rises up. 
    The voice of truth is easily known.

Unselfishness
    If you love yourself others will hate you, if you humble yourself
    others will love you.

Valor
    Boasting at home is not valor; parade is not battle; when war comes
    the valiant will be known. 
    The fugitive never stops to pick the thorn from his foot.

Wisdom
    A man may be born to wealth, but wisdom comes only with length of days. 
    A man with wisdom is better off than a stupid man with any amount of
    charms and superstition. 
    Know thyself better than he who speaks of thee. 
    Not to know is bad, not to wish to know is worse. 
    A counsellor who understands proverbs soon sets matters right.

   PROVERBS BASED ON THE OBSERVATION OF ANIMALS

Butterfly
    The butterfly that brushes against thorns will tear its wings.

Dog
    If the dog is not at home, he barks not. 
    A heedless dog will not do for the chase. 
    A lurking dog does not lie in the hyena’s lair.

Elephant
    He who can not move an ant, and yet tries to move an elephant, shall
    find out his folly. 
    The elephant does not find his trunk heavy. 
    Were no elephant in the jungle, the buffalo would be a great animal.

Fly
    If the fly flies, the frog goes not supperless to bed.

Fox
    When the fox dies, fowls do not mourn.

Goat
    When the goat goes abroad, the sheep must run.

Rat
    When the rat laughs at the cat, there is a hole. 
    The rat has not power to call the cat to account. 
    The rat does not go to sleep in the cat’s bed.

Wolf
    He who goes with the wolf will learn to howl.

A. O. STAFFORD

FOOTNOTE: 

[1] Among the works which have been consulted in the preparation of this
article are the following: 
     R. F. Burton, Wit and Wisdom from West Africa. 
     S. W. Koelle, African Native Literature. 
     A. B. Ellis, The Yoruba Speaking Peoples of the Slave Coast of West
         Africa. 
     Heli Chatelin, Folk Tales of Angola.

WHAT THE NEGRO WAS THINKING DURING THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY

ESSAY ON NEGRO SLAVERY[1]

NO. 1