The Efik are an ethnic group located primarily in southeastern Nigeria, in the southern part of Cross River State.
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Thought breaks the heart.
A stream coming down won't let you swim up.
It is not worth talking about a slip of the foot as if it were a fall.
Man looks only on the outside of things; God looks into the very heart.
It is the sea only which knows the bottom of the ship, as God only knows the time of death.
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Times causes remembrance.
A man always breaking off from his work never finishes anything.
A knot in the tree spoils the axe; famine spoils friendship.
Reverence your elder, for the man excelling in age excels in wisdom.
It is good that equals consort together.
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There is no worse curse than to desire a man's death.
One knows not the stability of his life.
He who falls by his foot shall rise again; he who falls by his mouth shall not rise.
The tree-knot spoils the axe; hunger spoils love.
When a man sees sunshine he dries his tobacco.
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Even a miser does not refuse his cook part of what he roasts.
An elephant will reach to the roof of the house.
A sitting in one place makes a man sleep.
A man knows not whether he will see tomorrow.
The fish when grown big returns to his rivulet.
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Many destroy themselves by falsehood.
He who asks questions hears the language, or gets interpretations.
One monkey does not like another to get a bellyful.
It is the stomach which rules the man.
The bad tree, like the crooked sugarcane, says he will not straighten; he breaks.
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A man who talks of others behind their backs, another will talk of him in like manner.
Connected with a great man, you will advance.
A straight road has no turnings.
Knowledge is better than riches.
The son disgraces his father by bad conduct.
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A man sauntering has no business.
It is good for a man to bear trouble rather than die.
A man does not use one finger to take out an arrow.
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