Cheyenne Proverb Example

Koontz John E John.Koontz at colorado.edu
Fri Jan 4 00:52:17 UTC 2002


I happened to note on Wayne Leman's Cheyenne site at
http://www.geocities.com/cheyenne_language/index.htm.  I assume from the
context that this is a fixed form, though it may be thematic instead.  It
is definitely metaphorical.

A Cheyenne Proverb

Nv'novhe'tanme mshnstva, onset'ha'eta nethoestovevoo'o, onshestxvtno mshnstva!

Don't race in craziness, try to stop your mounts, try to come in last in
terms of craziness!

This proverb was frequently quoted by the late Cheyenne historian, John
Stands In Timber. Its essential meaning is "Don't live a hurried life!"



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