Published online by Cambridge University Press: 17 April 2025
1. Methali hii hutuasa tusiwe na haraka
2. Yahusiana na mambo ya akili pia
3. Yahusiana na hali zote, za maisha
4. Pawe na mwisho wa kuagana na nyonga kabla ya kuruka
5. Katika nyakati nyingine huwezi kungoja kuaga
Kama methali zote, methali hii ni matokeo ya maarifa mengi. Yatuasa tusiwe na haraka katika neno lolote. Wakati wa kwenda njiani, ukikuta mfereji mdogo, lazima uangalie kabla ya kuruka. Lazima utazame upana wa mfereji na kina chake pia. Lazima utazame pia kama njia nyeupe ng’ambo yake. Ukiruka katika vidato vya meli kwenda mashuani, lazima uangalie; kama sivyo utatumbukia baharini.
Lakini methali hii haihusiani na kuruka kwa mwili tu. Huhusiana na mambo ya akili vile vile. Husema kwamba usitende kazi yoyote bila kujifunza vipengele vyake. Ukusudiapo kutenda jambo, yakupasa kufikiri migogoro ambayo itapasa kushindwa na matokeo ambayo yatafuata. Kama hufanyi hivyo, waruka gizani. Hili huweza kukutia katika hatari ya mauti au katika kina cha huzuni.
Kama methali zote, methali hii hutumika katika hali zote za maisha. Katika chumba cha mtihani, kama mwanafunzi hasomi maswali barabara akaandika majibu, huruka bila kuagana na nyonga. Matokeo ya tendo hili ya wazi. Baada ya kuingia chuo kikuu kama mwanafunzi hachagui masomo yake barabara, atajuta sana kwa uzembe wake. Kwa choyo chake cha mali, mfanyabiashara huweza kudunduliza bidhaa nyingi sana bila kuangalia wakati ujao. Mwisho wake hupatwa na hasara kubwa sana. Napoleon hakutazama nguvu ya nyonga yake alipopigana na Uingereza. Hitler aliruka gizani kwa kushambulia Russia, akajiangamiza mwenyewe na nchi yake. Hali kadhalika mtawala huweza kuangamiza nchi yake kwa utawala wake wa ujahili.
Methali hii huthibitishwa na methali nyingine, yaani “Haraka haraka haina baraka,” na “Kawia ufike.” Lakini hata hivi usemi huu wa hekima pengine huweza kututwisha hadhari nzito mno. Hapana shaka kuagana na nyonga kabla ya kuruka au kufikiri kabla ya kutenda kwafaa, lakini lazima pawe na mwisho wake. Ukifika kijitoni, kama ukizidi kufikiri namna ya kukivuka hutafika ng’ambo. Hali kadhalika hili ni kweli juu ya mwendo wa maisha. Fikira tupu zitakutia woga. Kwa mambo mengine lazima ufanye ujasiri.
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