fxquadro/Envato Elements
Chen gen kat pye, men li mache nan yon sèl chemen
Meaning
You cannot pursue every path or accomplish everything at the same time.
This proverb encourages someone to choose a direction, focus on one goal or responsibility at a time, and avoid spreading themselves too thin.
English Equivalent: One thing at a time. You cannot go in every direction at once.
Literal Meaning: A dog has four legs, but it walks along only one path.
Example 1
M pap etidye pou m vin enfimyè ak pwofesè an menm tan. Chen gen kat pye, men li mache nan yon sèl chemen.
I'm not going to study to become a nurse and a teacher at the same time. I need to choose one path at a time.
Example 2
Di Wisly pou l kòmanse yon sèl biznis pou kounye a. Chen gen kat pye, men li mache nan yon sèl chemen.
Tell Wisly to start only one business for now. It is better to focus on one thing at a time.
Different Versions of the Proverb
The proverb uses a simple image: although a dog has four legs, all four legs carry it in the same direction.
The lesson is not necessarily that a person can have only one goal in life. Rather, it warns against trying to pursue too many different paths at the same time without giving any of them enough attention.
Another version of the proverb is:
Chen gen kat pye, men li pa ka kouri nan kat chemen.
This version literally means, A dog has four legs, but it cannot run along four paths. Both versions encourage focus and remind us that our time and energy have limits.
The exact historical origin of the proverb is uncertain.