⚖️ Haitian proverbs about justice

These are the sharpest proverbs in the language. The cockroach is never right before the chicken. The small man does what he can, the big man does what he wants. If the oxen knew their strength, the driver would not drive them.

Bay kou bliye, pòte mak sonje

The one who strikes forgets, the one who carries the mark remembers

— Haitian proverb —

memory, injustice

one source

Bourik travay, chwal galonnen

The donkey works, the horse shows off its trim

— Haitian proverb —

labour, injustice, class

unverified

Pale franse pa vle di lespri

Speaking French does not mean intelligence

— Haitian proverb —

class, language, pretension

unverified

Wòch nan dlo pa konnen doulè wòch nan solèy

The stone in the water does not know the pain of the stone in the sun

— Haitian proverb —

empathy, inequality

one source

Tout moun se moun

Every person is a person

— Haitian proverb —

dignity, equality

one source

Bondye konn bay, li pa konn separe

God knows how to give, He does not know how to divide

— Haitian proverb —

inequality, faith

unverified

Ti nèg fè sa l kapab, gwo nèg fè sa l vle

The small man does what he can, the big man does what he wants

— Haitian proverb —

power, class

unverified

Rayi chen, men di dan l blan

Hate the dog, but say its teeth are white

— Haitian proverb —

fairness, honesty

unverified

Si bèf te konn fòs yo, majoral pa ta lanse yo

If the oxen knew their own strength, the driver would not drive them

— Haitian proverb —

power, class, solidarity

one source

Tout kòd gen de bout

Every rope has two ends

— Haitian proverb —

fairness, truth

one source

Rayi chen, men pa di l fimen tabak

Hate the dog, but do not say it smokes tobacco

— Haitian proverb —

fairness, slander

one source

Bondye pa bòpè

God is not a stepfather

— Haitian proverb —

faith, equality

one source

Fòk de klòch sonnen pou konn verite a

Both bells must ring before you know the truth

— Haitian proverb —

truth, fairness

one source