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A man who pays respect to the great paves the way for his own greatness.

What it means
The proverb links honoring those who have achieved greatness with achieving it oneself. Showing respect to the great is presented as preparing one's own way to the same standing.
Igbo · West Africa
Source and context
From: Igbo, West Africa
Source: Igbo (Nigeria) oral-tradition proverb. Earlier recorded here as documented in nzukomba.com's "The Best 20 Igbo Proverbs for Respect"; that page, fetched directly, contains a different respect proverb ("Onye kwụrụ ugwu enweta ugwu") and not this one.

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

Respect
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