"Do not measure the timber while the tree..." - Malawian Proverb

“Do not measure the timber while the tree is still growing.”

- Malawianpatience

Meaning

Do not judge potential prematurely; let things develop fully before assessment.

Malawian foresters know that young trees develop unpredictably. Premature measurement wastes effort and misrepresents potential.

Origin

Malawian

Language

Chichewa

“The mango ripens from the inside; you cannot see its sweetness until it is ready.”

Kenyan

“The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The second best time is now.”

Ugandan

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