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Botswa ha bo jelwe
Sesotho proverb · Sesotho
Literally: “Laziness is not eaten”
Meaning: Idleness produces no food or reward; you cannot eat your laziness. One must work in order to eat and prosper — effort, not sloth, fills the stomach.
Background
A short, very common Sesotho proverb belonging to the cluster of Basotho sayings that prize diligence and condemn idleness, reflecting an agrarian/pastoral society where survival depended directly on labour. Its brevity makes it a frequent everyday admonition.
How it is used
Used to spur a lazy person to work, to justify the link between effort and reward, and as a proverbial rebuke to anyone hoping to gain without working. Common with children, in fields/workplaces, and in moral teaching.