Abkhaz proverbs on language and words
· If you are afraid, do not speak, but if you have spoken don’t be afraid.
· Language is the servant of the mind.
· Language is the intermediary for the heart.
· It is possible to open the castle gates with a sweet tongue.
· The tongue is loose, and tells what you force it to tell.
· He who has a big mouth has little force.
· Be not afraid of a gun, but of a wicked tongue.
· The lamb with a sweet tongue sucks two sheep.
· You can’t take back a spoken word.
· The bullet will strike one, but the word – hundreds.
· He who thinks clearly speaks clearly.
· A person can be kept by a word, and a donkey by a rope.
· A good rope is long, and a good word is short.
· Finish your speech before you are asked to.
· If you are not guilty, your tongue is brave.
· At the laid table a long speech is not necessary.
· If you speak too much, your speech will include lies.
· A bad word can spoil any deed.
· If you are not able to speak, at least learn to be silent.
· A superfluous word annoys everyone, superfluous wine makes them legless.
· A good story shortens the journey.