If you put little effort in a task you can expect very little success.

More Guyanese Proverbs

• Some people take out their anger on those who are nearby but have nothing to do with it.
• It is assumed that a woman talks very much, but a man talks less and quickly resorts to violence.
• A matter may not concern someone, yet he or she gets involved.
• Children learn bad habits from their parents.
• Some happenings cannot be changed or reversed.
• Sometimes when you are enjoying yourself, unknown to you, trouble is brewing in the background.
• You should not tell everything. Room should be left to others to find out some things for themselves.
• If you do not have the necessary expertise or tools for a job, it is better not to bother with it.
• There are places where you can play an important part, but here are other places where you can be insignificant.
• Just because someone smiles with you doesn’t mean that you are friends.
• Some people make use of things and people and then carelessly discard them.
• Do not try to carry out two tasks at the same time.
• A source of enjoyment is always available where it was once found.
• You should not try to position yourself everywhere or in everything.
• When you are young you carry much burden, but as you get old you can take on only little responsibility.
• Your secrets are spread from best friend to best friend to best friend.
• You spend a lifetime trying to acquire knowledge and understanding, and when it seems that all has been grasped, life ends.
• You may think that you are getting away with your misdeeds, but one day you will be caught.
• If you feel that you do not belong somewhere you should not go there. Also, if you are unable to do something, you should not do it.
• You can hurt a person by what you say as if you literally bite him.
• Be grateful for favors from anyone because someday you may need another.
• Good things do not come easily.
• In life you learn from everybody and everything in the environment in which you find yourself.
• People will not respect you if you have a bad reputation.
• In life it is difficult for you to relate to someone who may be unfriendly or hostile.
• It does not matter if you are annoyed with conditions at work, you have to return to your job. Similarly, although you may be frustrated with the situation in your homeland, you may still have to return to it.
• When two powerful people meet to discuss business, everybody else must know his place.