Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Economic Times
The Economic Times
Shreya Biswas

African proverb of the day: 'By crawling a child learns to...' - inspiring life lessons on learning, self-development, persistence, personal growth and why small beginnings often lead to great success

African proverb of the day : Success is often celebrated when people reach major milestones, earning a degree, securing a promotion, launching a business, or achieving a lifelong goal. What is less visible are the countless small steps, mistakes, and learning experiences that make those accomplishments possible. Across cultures, traditional wisdom has long recognized that growth is a gradual process rather than an instant transformation.

African Proverb of the Day Today on Growth and Learning

Today’s African proverb is, “ By crawling a child learns to stand ,” as per Bell Africana.

The saying teaches that mastery and achievement are built through gradual learning, practice, and persistence.

What This African Saying Means

The proverb draws inspiration from one of the earliest stages of human development.

Before a child can walk confidently, they must first crawl. Through crawling, they build strength, coordination, balance, and confidence. Each stage prepares them for the next step in their development.

The proverb suggests that success in any area of life follows a similar pattern. People rarely begin as experts. Skills, knowledge, and confidence are developed through experience and steady effort over time.

READ ALSO: Short inspirational spiritual quote by Ram Dass: 'The quieter you become, the more you can...' - life lessons on power of silence, listening, mindfulness and how to find peace in a noisy world by American spiritual teacher and Be Here Now author

Why Small Beginnings Matter

One of the key lessons within the proverb is that every achievement starts with a first step.

Many people become discouraged when they compare their early efforts to someone else's advanced success. However, every accomplished individual once began as a beginner. Athletes start by learning basic movements, musicians practice simple notes, and entrepreneurs often begin with small ideas before building larger ventures.

African Proverb of the Day June 15: Lessons on Patience and Persistence

Traditional African wisdom often celebrates resilience and continuous learning. This proverb reflects those values by encouraging people to embrace the learning process rather than becoming frustrated by temporary struggles.

Mistakes, setbacks, and imperfect attempts are not signs of failure. Instead, they are often essential parts of growth. Just as a child learns balance through repeated attempts, individuals develop strength and capability through practice and persistence.

The proverb encourages patience with oneself while pursuing long-term goals.

READ ALSO: Greek proverb of the day: 'A cat with gloves never catches...' - motivational life lessons on taking action, courage, determination, effort, overcoming hesitation and how to turn goals into reality

The Connection Between Effort and Growth

Another important message within the proverb is that meaningful progress requires participation.

Growth rarely happens without effort. By taking action, gaining experience, and learning from challenges, people gradually build the skills needed to achieve greater success. Small improvements made consistently often produce remarkable results over time.

Life Lessons From the African Saying of the Day About Personal Development

The proverb teaches that success is built one step at a time.

People do not need to achieve perfection immediately. What matters is the willingness to begin, learn, and continue moving forward despite difficulties. Each small effort contributes to future growth and greater accomplishments.

READ ALSO: Chinese proverb of the day: 'A man who plants melons will harvest melons, and a man who plants...' - inspiring lessons on life's choices, value of consistent effort, consequences how actions shapes our outcomes

Inspiring African Proverbs

Here are a few more African proverbs.

  • “Examine what is said, not who is speaking,” as per Parade.
  • “If you want to know the end, look at the beginning,” as per Parade.
  • “Knowledge is a garden. If it isn’t cultivated, you can’t harvest it,” as per Parade.
  • “Even the lion protects himself against flies,” as per Parade.
  • “However long the night, the dawn will break,” as per Parade.
  • “If you heal the leg of a person, do not be surprised if they use it to run away,” as per Parade.
READ ALSO: French proverb of the day: 'All comes on time to the one who knows how to...' - motivating life lessons on patience, persistence, importance of staying committed to your goals and why good things take time
Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.