Taarub kanam taarub xol a ko gën

A beautiful heart is better than a beautiful face.

What it means

A face is the first thing people see, but it's the least reliable way to judge someone. Character shows itself more slowly, and it's worth the wait.

Wolof · West Africa

Source and context

From: Wolof, West Africa

Source: Wolof (Senegal) oral-tradition proverb, documented in Wolof proverb collections (e.g. Lingalot) — beautiful heart entry

The meaning given here is our own reading. Other interpretations exist.