Ethiopian (Amharic) Proverbs: Translations and explanation of Ethiopian proverbs

Proverbs are well-known and enduring expressions rooted in cultural, religious, political, philosophical, and social fabrics. Societies have been using this wisdom to indirectly express their happiness and sadness, their satisfaction and dissatisfaction, their praise and disrespect, and so on, for centuries.One might ask why anyone should want to make a collection of Amharic proverbs, or why, when it has been made, anyone should want to read it. The simplest answer is that Amharic proverbs—like any proverbs—are enjoyable and, in some cases, delightful. Consider these, for example: Among the blind, a one-eyed person is a king (proverb number 203). Or, one who has planted grapes by the side of the road and one who marries a pretty woman both have the same problem, both are wanted by many (proverb number 222); or, the wasting away of an elephant and the losses of a rich man are not noticeable (proverb number 124).