17 Mauritanian Proverbs
1. 
A cutting word is worse than a bowstring; a cut may heal, but the cut of the tongue does not.
2. 
A stone from the hand of a friend is an apple.
3. 
Before eating, open thy mouth.
4. 
Before one cooks, one must have the meat.
5. 
He who begins a conversation, does not foresee the end.
6. 
He who has no spoon will burn his hands.
7. 
He who loves money must labor.
8. 
He who wears too fine clothes, shall go about in rags.
9. 
He whose clothes are too fine, shall go about in rags.
10. 
If you watch your pot, your food will not burn.
11. 
It is only the water that is spilled; the bowl is not broken.
12. 
Not all the flowers of a tree produce fruit.
13. 
Not all the tree's blossoms will bear fruit.
14. 
One must talk little, and listen a lot.
15. 
Open your mouth before you eat.
16. 
Too large a morsel chokes the child.
17. 
Two eyes see better than one.