తిట్టితే చచ్చినవాడు లేడు, దీవించితే బ్రతికినవాడూలేడు.

This expression is often used sarcastically or in a cynical context to imply that practical survival or success doesn't always depend on formal education or 'learning'. It can also suggest that innate nature or luck plays a larger role than acquired knowledge.

This expression emphasizes that real-life success or failure is often determined by luck, fate, or circumstances rather than just formal education or skill. It is used to console someone who failed despite their knowledge, or to point out that even those without skills sometimes thrive.

This proverb is used to suggest that words alone—whether insults or blessings—do not determine a person's fate or lifespan. It emphasizes that one should not take curses to heart or rely solely on blessings, but rather focus on reality and one's own actions.

* Van dreigen sterft man neit.

This proverb highlights the reliability of water sources in agriculture. It suggests that farming near a large lake (abundant water) ensures success and prosperity, whereas relying on a small well (limited water) is much riskier and rarely leads to significant wealth.

This proverb describes people who are so deeply involved or stuck in specific situations that they cannot be reached or distracted by anything else, even a family tragedy. It highlights the behavior of those who are either too focused on their addictions (toddy/palm wine) or too overwhelmed by their own personal disasters (house burning) to fulfill social or family obligations.

This proverb highlights the transient nature of power and social status. It suggests that authority and leadership are only relevant while a person is alive and present in society; once deceased, their worldly influence vanishes and they belong only to the graveyard.

This proverb emphasizes that human life and destiny are governed by actions and natural laws rather than just the words of others. It suggests that mere words—whether malicious curses or benevolent blessings—do not have the power to change one's fate or physical reality. It is used to encourage people to ignore empty threats or not rely solely on praise.

This proverb reflects a pragmatic and somewhat cynical view of human nature. It suggests that people only like those who provide them with something or give them money. The second part implies that a person's debts are effectively canceled or their accounts are settled only when they pass away, often used to comment on the difficulty of recovering debts or the fleeting nature of social approval based on transactions.

This proverb emphasizes that knowledge is vast and no single person can claim absolute mastery over all subjects. Similarly, every person, no matter how uneducated or simple, possesses some form of unique knowledge or skill. It is used to promote humility among the learned and respect for everyone's inherent wisdom.

This proverb highlights two harsh realities of life: people only appreciate those who are generous or provide help, and once a person dies, their debts and obligations often perish with them, making it impossible to recover what was owed. It is used to describe the nature of gratitude and the finality of death regarding liabilities.