Lè ravèt vle fè dans, li pa janm envite poul

When the cockroach wants to throw a dance, it never invites the hen

Nobody opens their door to the thing that eats them. Read the guest list to learn what is really going on.

Also recorded as Lè ravèt fè dans, li pa janm envite poul (1921)

The proverb belongs to the Haitian people. The translation and the note are our own.

Same themes

Each firefly shines for its own eyes

Your neighbour's beard catches fire, you soak your own

Never cut the finger of the one feeding you

Before you climb the tree, look whether you can come down

The cat's paw is soft, but its claw is wicked

Never set a cat to guard the butter