Wisdom Sharper Than Knives, Softer Than Rain
By: John S. Morlu II, CPA
If you want to understand the Ewe people, do not ask questions. Listen to their proverbs.
Ewe proverbs are weapons and blankets at the same time—sharp enough to correct a mistake, gentle enough to comfort a wounded heart, deep enough to challenge a scholar, and simple enough for a child to memorize.
In Ewe culture, elders rarely speak directly. They do not waste words. They do not argue unnecessarily. They do not embarrass you by correcting you openly.
They simply drop a proverb—a small sentence so precise that everyone in the room becomes silent.
Because Ewe proverbs do not explain. They reveal. And when an elder drops one, you feel it.
This chapter is an exploration of the wisdom that has carried the Ewe people for centuries—wisdom hidden in poetry, humor, philosophy, metaphors, and truth sharpened by time.
1. Proverbs as Identity — The Ewe Way of Thinking in Layers
To the Ewe, a proverb is not an accessory. It is a form of intelligence.
Ewe people speak with:
- precision
- measured tone
- metaphor
- layered meaning
A single proverb can:
- settle arguments
- teach ethics
- guide life decisions
- correct foolishness
- preserve history
- transmit ancestral knowledge
When an elder says, “Nunya, adidoe.” (Knowledge is like a baobab tree—no one embraces it alone.), they are not just encouraging learning. They are teaching humility, cooperation, wisdom, and the limits of individual power.
Every proverb is a lesson, a warning, and a mirror.
2. Proverbs About Wisdom — The Foundation of Ewe Life
“Nunya, adidoe.”
Wisdom is like a baobab tree; no one person can embrace it alone.
Meaning: Wisdom is communal, endless, and grows with cooperation.
“Xexeame le vɛvɛ me.”
Patience lives inside wisdom.
Meaning: Wisdom without patience is incomplete.
“Ne wòada gbe, na wòate ŋu.”
If you wake up (to life), may you understand.
Meaning: Living is not enough; understanding is the real achievement.
“Agbe dzi o.”
Life has no duplicate.
Meaning: Protect your life—nothing can replace it.
These proverbs shape character more effectively than any textbook.
3. Proverbs About Character — Quiet Warnings Wrapped in Poetry
“Wòkplɔa dzimɛ dua, màtsɔa.”
If you show me the stump of your heart, I will show you mine.
Meaning: People reciprocate the energy you give.
“Ne eɖe wò tso ge gbe o, mèɖe nɔvi o.”
If someone does not truly know you, they cannot be your sibling.
Meaning: Relationship is deeper than blood; understanding defines family.
“Se kae me nya wò, dɔme wò.”
Your character is your inner clothing.
Meaning: Who you are inside is more important than external beauty.
“Ne dzra ɖe wòƒe asi me la, wòatsɔa.”
If something gets into your hand, you will reveal your character.
Meaning: Power exposes true nature.
These are not insults. They are gentle but sharp corrections.
4. Proverbs About Silence — The Ewe Preference for Quiet Intelligence
Ewe culture values silence. Silence is not fear; it is strategy. It is power.
“Mietsɔ gbe sí míewo.”
We don’t pull voices; we pull hearts.
Meaning: Influence comes from integrity, not noise.
“Gbe maɖi o; ne mɖe kua nu la, wònya.”
A word doesn’t rot; if it grows mold, you will see.
Meaning: Truth reveals itself with time.
“Tɔgbui gɔme be yɔ kple vovo.”
An elder’s silence is full of words.
Meaning: Silence itself can be instruction.
5. Proverbs About Community — No One Survives Alone
“Abɔbɔ le te, ke wò be woaɖu la.”
The snail is slow, but it reaches its destination.
Meaning: Support others; progress differs for everyone.
“Ame mewɔ nu o; ame kple ame na wɔ nu.”
A person cannot accomplish anything alone; it takes people to support people.
Meaning: Community is strength.
“Aƒe yi wò.”
May your home be strengthened.
A blessing disguised as a proverb.
In Ewe culture, the home is not a building—it is a foundation of identity.
6. Proverbs About Leadership — Calm, Disciplined, and Wise Rule
“Agbalẽ kple kɔme tɔ to wo.”
The drum and the skin must agree to make good music.
Meaning: Good leadership requires collaboration.
“Ne ame nyo la tɔ na wo.”
If a person is good, they will lead the way.
Meaning: Character earns leadership, not title.
“Tɔgbui mekɔ nu kple nu.”
An elder doesn’t mix matters recklessly.
Meaning: A good leader speaks and acts with care.
These proverbs explain why Ewe leadership tends to be calm and structured.
7. Proverbs About Money — Financial Wisdom Without Banks
Ewe people have practical economic thinking, often delivered through humor.
“Sika tsɔa ame ta me da akpa.”
Money can wash a person’s head without using water.
Meaning: Money changes situations.
“Se si meɖe wò o, mèɖe woƒe agbo o.”
If you do not manage your character, you cannot manage your wealth.
Meaning: Poor discipline destroys prosperity.
“Ame me ɖa ame sika yome o.”
A person does not reveal the source of their wealth to everyone.
Meaning: Discretion protects fortune.
This wisdom is why Ewe people tend to build quietly—no unnecessary noise.
8. Proverbs About Human Nature — Truth Without Flattery
“Ne ame bla nú le wòƒe agbe me la, ekema wòana.”
If someone is destroying their life, they will refuse advice.
Meaning: Some people only learn through consequences.
“Ame siwo de akpa me nye wo, menye woawɔa o.”
Those who smile at you are not always your friends.
Meaning: Discernment is critical.
“Ne wotsɔ kɔkpɔe la, ne eɖe wò le eme la, wòna.”
When someone shows you who they truly are, believe them.
Meaning: Patterns don’t lie.
This is the psychological sharpness of Ewe proverbs—concise but devastatingly accurate.
9. Proverbs About Love — Gentle, Truthful, and Realistic
Love in Ewe proverbs is not fairy tale fluff. It is realistic love—mature love, disciplined love.
“Fiɛ me tɔ afi o.”
Love does not stand on one leg.
Meaning: Love requires effort from both sides.
“Ne ame dzɔ gbe me la, wòtsɔa asime nu ko.”
If someone is dear to you, you speak soft things to them.
Meaning: Love expresses itself kindly.
“Ame si le wò dzi la, wòagblɔ na wo.”
The person in your heart deserves honesty.
Meaning: Truth is the foundation of love.
This gentle wisdom has preserved relationships for centuries.
10. Conclusion — Proverbs as the DNA of Ewe Civilization
Ewe proverbs are not mere sayings. They are cultural software—the operating system of an intelligent people.
In them you find:
- ethics
- leadership
- morality
- honesty
- psychology
- financial intelligence
- community values
- spiritual understanding
- emotional maturity
- resilience
Ewe proverbs teach us that true wisdom does not shout; it whispers—not loudly, but deeply.
And those who listen become wiser, calmer, stronger, and more human.
These proverbs are the soul of the Ewe people—sharp enough to correct, soft enough to heal, deep enough to guide, and timeless enough to outlive all of us.
Author: John S. Morlu II, CPA is the CEO and Chief Strategist of JS Morlu, leads a globally recognized public accounting and management consultancy firm. Under his visionary leadership, JS Morlu has become a pioneer in developing cutting-edge technologies across B2B, B2C, P2P, and B2G verticals. The firm’s groundbreaking innovations include AI-powered reconciliation software (ReckSoft.com), Uber for handymen (Fixaars.com) and advanced cloud accounting solutions (FinovatePro.com), setting new industry standards for efficiency, accuracy, and technological excellence.