THE BED BUG SAID TO HER BABIES: "JUST KEEP CALM AND RIDE IT OUT, FOR THAT WHICH IS HOT NOW WILL EVENTUALLY TURN COLD”. A LESSON ON ENDURANCE, RESILIENCE AND PERSEVERANCE.

IT IS ONLY BY ENDURANCE AND PERSEVERANCE THAT A PORCUPINE GIVES BIRTH TO BABIES COVERED IN SPIKES. SOME PROBLEMS CAN APPEAR INSURMOUNTABLE, BUT WITH ENDURANCE AND PERSEVERANCE, WE WILL ALWAYS TRIUMPH.

THE GOAT MIGHT BE SWEATING PROFUSELY, BUT ITS FURS WILL NOT LET PEOPLE NOTICE. (AN ADMISSION THAT ONE'S EXTERIOR DEMEANOUR CAN CAMOUFLAGE ONE'S INTERNAL TURMOILS).

NO ONE ASKS A SNAKE-BITE VICTIM WHETHER IT SPAT ANY VENOM INTO HIM. CERTAIN MISFORTUNES CAN BE SO SELF-EVIDENT IT MAKES NO SENSE ASKING THE VICTIM WHETHER THEY FEEL ANY PAIN.  

THE PYTHON IS STUCK WITH ITS VICTIM. WHEN YOU UNDERTAKE AN INSURMOUNTABLE TASK FOR WHICH THERE IS NO EASY EXIT,THE FEELING CAN BE REALLY OVERWHELMING.

A MAN ENGAGED IN SOMETHING AS TOUGH AS IRON SMITHERY HAS GOT HIS FARE SHARE OF HUMAN TOILS.

SHE WHO TOOK UP COOKING BEFORE HER RIVAL HOUSEWIFE TENDS TO HAVE GREATER POTSHERDS...(EXPERTISE COMES FROM EXPERIENCE).

THE RAT THAT WILL GO SWIMMING WITH A LIZARD, IF THE LIZARD COMES OUT ALL NICE AND DRY, WILL THE RAT FARE THE SAME? (A CAUTION AGAINST COPYING OTHER PEOPLE'S LIFE STYLES).

WHEN AN OLD LADY TRIPS AND FALLS REPEATEDLY, IT CALLS FOR A COUNT OF THE CONTENTS OF HER BASKET. (WHEN ONE BAD MISFORTUNE KEEPS RECURRING, PEOPLE BEGIN TO WONDER AS TO ANY ROOT CAUSES).

WHEN AN ARROW HITS A LOG TWICE, PEOPLE BEGIN TO WONDER IF THE ARROWS HAD BEEN FASHIONED TO TARGET LOGS INSTEAD OF ANIMALS? SOME UNEXPLAINED BAD LUCK CAN BE GREATED WITH SUCH SUSPICION.

WHEN THE MOUNTAIN BRINGS ON A SHORTNESS OF BREATH, THE CLIMBER WILL LEARN TO STOP AND TAKE A BREAK, HANDS ON THE HIPS. THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITHOUT A SOLUTION.

A HEAVY OBJECT REQUIRES TWO HANDS TO LIFT/HOLD IT. A BURDEN SHARED IS A BURDEN HALVED.

THE GUINEA FOWL SAID THEY WALK IN PAIRS SO THAT IF ONE FAILS TO SPOT A SOURCE OF DANGER, THE OTHER WILL. TWO GOOD HEADS ARE BETTER THAN ONE.

THE SWALLOW BIRD, SAID HE LEARNED TO FLY WITHOUT PERCHING SINCE THE HUNTER LEARNED TO SHOOT WITHOUT AIMING. UNUSUAL CHALLENGES CALL FOR UNUSUAL TACTICS.

IF A SNAKE DOES NOT BEHAVE LIKE A SNAKE, CHILDREN WILL TOY AROUND WITH IT....(FAMILIARITY BREEDS CONTEMPT).

HE WHOSE HOUSE IS ON FIRE DOES NOT KEEP BUSY CHASING AFTER THE RATS ESCAPING FROM THE BLAZE...(MESSAGE: A WARNING ABOUT NEGLECTING CRITICAL PRIORITIES IN PURSUIT OF NEEDLESS TRIFLES).

NO ONE WOULD WALK OUT OF AN OZO TITLE FEAST TO ATTEND AN AGWU RITUAL CEREMONY INSTEAD. PRIORITIES HAVE THEIR GRADES. THINGS THAT ARE OF NO CONSEQUENCE SHOULD NOT TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER IMPORTANT MATTERS.  

A HOUSE DOES NOT FALL AND LEAVE ITS ROOF BEHIND. WHERE THERE IS A CAUSE, THERE IS AN EFFECT.

GLUE NEVER DROPS ON THE FLOOR AND FAILS TO PICK UP SAND. WHERE THERE IS A CAUSE, THERE'S AN EFFECT.

AN ANGER AGAINST A SIBLING IS NEVER FELT AS DEEP AS THE BONE MARROW.

WHEN A HERO IS KILLED IN A DOMESTIC FEUD, HIS VACUUM WILL BE FELT ON THE DAY OF AN EXTERNAL BATTLE. THE TRUE WORTH OF A HERO IS NEVER FULLY APPRECIATED IN HIS LIFEIME.

THE DEATH OF A HERO IS NEVER PLEASING TO HIS CLAN, BUT NEITHER IS HIS LIFE....(A PROPHET IS NEVER RECOGNISED IN HIS OWN COUNTRY).

A COW NEVER QUITE KNOWS THE VALUE OF ITS TAIL UNTIL IT IS CHOPPED OFF. WE DO NOT ALWAYS APPRECIATE WHAT WE HAVE UNTIL WE LOSE THEM.

WHAT ONE SOWS IS WHAT ONE REAPS.

HE WHO HAS NEVER DROPPED ANYTHING NEVER GETS TO PICK UP ANYTHING. NO VENTURE, NO SUCCESS.

WHEN YOU LABOUR IN THE SUN, YOU GET TO EAT IN THE SHADES. SAME CONTEXT AS ABOVE.

IT IS THE FIREWOOD THAT YOU STOCKPILE IN THE DRY SEASON THAT WILL KEEP YOU WARM COME THE RAINY SEASON. SAME CONTEXT AS ABOVE.

IT IS THE SOILED HANDS THAT BRING ABOUT A GREASY MOUTH... (IT IS BY GETTING YOUR HANDS DIRTY THAT YOU FIND THE FOOD TO PUT ON THE TABLE).

THE MAN WITH A FULL BASKET (OF GOODIES) SAID THEY WERE RECIPROCAL GIFTS FROM THOSE WHO ONCE RECEIVED FROM HIM. WHAT YOU SOW IS WHAT YOU REAP.

WHEN THE RIGHT HAND WASHES THE LEFT AND THE LEFT WASHES THE RIGHT, THEY BOTH BECOME CLEAN. YOU SCRATCH MY BACK,I SCRATCH YOURS!

A FAVOUR DONE TO A FELLOW MAN IS A GIFT HELD IN TRUST; IN DUE TIME, IT WILL RETURN TO THE GIVER. WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND.

THE FOREST THAT DENIED A DAMSEL FIREWOOD MADE HER LOAD LIGHTER. EVERY DISAPPOINTMENT IS A BLESSING IN DISGUISE.

THE RAIN THAT DRENCHED AN EAGLE JUST GAVE IT A BATH. SAME AS ABOVE.  

WHEN AN ELDER DECLARES HIS WILL BEFORE HIS TIME, HE SPENDS THE REST OF HIS LIFE IN ABJECT SHAME.(NEVER BRAG ABOUT WHAT YOU KNOW YOU CANNOT ACHIEVE, OR THAT OVER WHICH YOU HAVE NO CONTROL).

THE BREAD FRUIT WILL ALWAYS FALL IN ITS DUE TIME...(THERE IS NO RUUSH IN LIFE; EVERYTHING HAPPENS IN ITS DUE TIME).

THE EYES AND THE NOSTRILS ARE NEXT OF KIN. THAT IS WHY WHEN THE EYES CRY,THE NOSTRILS JOIN IN. (RELATIONS ARE EXPECTED TO BE THERE FOR ONE ANOTHER,FOR WHAT AFFECTS ONE AFFECTS THE OTHER).