"The crooked tree lives its life while th..." - Cameroonian Proverb

“The crooked tree lives its life while the straight tree becomes a coffin.”

- Camerooniannature

Meaning

Imperfection can be an advantage; conformity sometimes leads to exploitation.

Fulani woodworkers select straight trees for timber, leaving twisted ones standing. The 'flawed' tree survives precisely because of its imperfection.

Origin

Cameroonian

Language

Fulfulde

“Water that is too pure has no fish.”

Ghanaian

“The wind does not break a tree that bends.”

Tanzanian

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