Muugi ni mutaare

A wise person is the one who listens to counsel.

What it means

Being wise means listening to advice, not just knowing a lot already. Don't brush off the counsel of parents, elders, or your community's council too quickly.

Kikuyu · East Africa

Source and context

From: Kikuyu, East Africa

Source: Gikuyu (Kenya) oral-tradition proverb — "African Proverb of the Month," April 2021 (afriprov.tangaza.ac.ke); cf. 1000 Kikuyu Proverbs, G. Barra, Consolata Missionaries, Nyeri (1939, Kenya Literature Bureau)

The source explains it: one who heeded advice was respectful, could make acceptable decisions, and subsequently would achieve positive progress. The wording of the meaning is ours.

Wisdom

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