28 Maori Proverbs
1. 
A bird which eats berries can be caught, but not a bird that eats wood.
2. 
A brave man who climbs trees is food for their roots.
3. 
A whale's tooth in a whale's jaw.
4. 
A woman in the house is like a kaka in the forest.
5. 
Ask me what is the greatest thing in the world, I will reply: It is people, it is people, it is people.
6. 
Care for the land, Care for the people, Go forward.
7. 
Desolate darkeness, desolate brightness.
8. 
He who stands up will live, He who sits down will perish.
9. 
In a very old tree, you may be certain that the sapwood is on the outside, while the heartwood is in the middle.
10. 
Join those who can join sections of a canoe.
11. 
Land is permanent, man disappears.
12. 
Let someone else acknowledge your virtues.
13. 
Like the migrating Maruiwi, who all disappeared into the world of spirits Dead like the moa.
14. 
Many make the descent to eternal darkness but few ascend to heaven.
15. 
Many stars cannot be concealed by a small cloud.
16. 
My totara sapling so suddenly broken off.
17. 
Only the foolish visit the land of the cannibals.
18. 
Persist as resolutely as you persist in eating.
19. 
The block of wood should not dictate to the carver.
20. 
The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.
28 Maori Proverbs, Page 1 of 2
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