10 INDONESIAN WISE PROVERBS

1. Tong Kosong Nyaring Bunyinya ( Empty drum gives loud sound)

This proverb describes people who is much talking as people with no knowledge. In Indonesia, there is a common opinion in community that some one who speaks too much, usually do not have enough capacity about what he is talking about. Therefore, it is considered better to be more calm and speaks as needed.

2. Buruk Muka, Cermin di Belah (Bad Face, Split the Mirror)

This Proverb is addressed to some people who do not accept and admit their ugliness and short coming or failure. They tend to blame others for the situation, even though it is their own fault. It remind us that it is not good to blame others for our own fault. On the contrary, we must admit our mistakes and take lessons from it for better future.

3. Alon-Alon Asal Kelakon ( No Matter It Goes slowly as long as It is Safety)

In society, there are some people who tend to do something in a hurry, where they often fail in the middle of a process or have an accident or it could be that the job is finished but with bad results, so they have to start over. This proverb exists as an advice for those people, in order to do something slowly, so that the process is safe or doesn’t fail to completion.

4. Besar Pasak Dari Pada Tiang (Larger Pegs Than Poles)

It describes a condition which expenditure is bigger than revenue. in community, there are people who cannot withstand expenses so that the total of expenditures exceeds income, which in the end falls into financial problems. Therefore, people are advised to adjust their expenses with their income in order to maintain its financial condition stays healthy. Thus, people can avoid from financial collapse and debt trap.

5. Semut di Seberang Kelihatan, Gajah di Pelupuk Mata Tidak terlihat (Ants Across the Ocean Visible, an Elephant in the Lids of the Eye Invisible)

Have you ever met some one who always criticized about others people faults or flaws, included the small thing, but on other hands He haven’t realized about his faults or flaws even though the big thing. This proverb appears as a criticism so that the person not only criticizes and asks others to improve themselves, but also corrects their own shortcomings or ugliness as well.

6. Berat Sama di Pikul, Ringan Sama di Jinjing (Weight Should Be Carried Together, Light Should Be Carried Together)

This proverb admonishes us to do something or solve problems together, either it is hard problems or easy problems. By doing it together, all problems would be easier to overcome.

7. Sepandai-Pandainya Membungkus, Yang Busuk Akan Tercium Juga (No Matter How Smart We Wrap, The Rotten Will Still Smell )

This proverb reminds us that we should not commit evil deeds because no matter how neatly we cover them up, one day it will be uncovered. It uses the analogy of someone covering a carcass, even though it is tightly closed, the stench will still be smelled by people.

8. Sepandai-pandainya Tupai Melompat, Akhirnya Jatuh Juga (As Smart As The Squirrel Jumps, It Finally Falls)

This adage reminds us that no matter how smart we are, we still have a chance to fail. Nobody is perfect, everyone makes mistakes or fails. Thus, we must not be arrogant or have excessive self-confidence.

9. Karena Nilai Setitik, Rusak Susu Sebelanga (Because of a Speck of Indigo, a Pot of Milk Damages)

This adage reminds us that even a small accident can ruin a big project. Suppose also In friendship, sometimes many good things that have been done together for a long time, can be damaged because one little bad thing happened. So, we do not downplay a small problem because it could give big negative effect in our life.

10. Berakit-Rakit ke Hulu, Berenang-Renang Ketepian. Bersusah-Susah Dahulu Bersenang-Senang Kemudian (Raft to Upstream, Swim to the Edge. Work Hard First, Have Fun Later)

This proverb advises us to be patient in pursuing success. We should work hard first even with hardships, for beter life in the future. Some people try to take shortcuts because they don’t want it hard to pursue success. Eventually they failed and had a bleak future.