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Chik pa janm respekte pye gwo mouche

A chigoe flea never respects a big man’s foot

— Haitian proverb —

equality, class, vulnerability

Rank is no protection against what bites everyone. The chik burrows into whatever foot it finds.

Also recorded as Chik pa janm respekte pye grannèg (1921)

Chik pa janm respekte pye gwo mouche — A chigoe flea never respects a big man’s foot
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The proverb belongs to the Haitian people. The translation and the note are our own.

Same themes

Bourik travay, chwal galonnen

The donkey works, the horse shows off its trim

— Haitian proverb —

labour, injustice, class

Pale franse pa vle di lespri

Speaking French does not mean intelligence

— Haitian proverb —

class, language, pretension

Tout moun se moun

Every person is a person

— Haitian proverb —

dignity, equality

Bèf san ke, Bondye pouse mouch pou li

For the cow with no tail, God drives the flies away

— Haitian proverb —

faith, protection, vulnerability

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

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