Sights, Sounds & Wisdom of the World's People
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Sights: From many corners of the globe, we bring you images of indigenous and traditional cultures - people, symbolism, art, handiwork, totems and other forms of expression that are a common thread throughout many cultures.
Sounds: Click the 'Download' links to listen to world music samples from Asia, Australia, the Americas, Europe and more! To purchase the full version of any of the samples please click the button to the right.
Words of Wisdom: There is much wisdom in proverbs and quotes from the people of the world. You'll find some thought-provoking and inspiring words of wisdom spotted throughout this page.
Enjoy!
AUSTRALASIA
Above: Aboriginal rock painting
Australian Aboriginal Proverbs
"Those who lose dreaming are lost."
"We are all visitors to this time, this place. We are just passing through.
Our purpose here is to observe, to learn, to grow, to love... and then we return home."
"The more you know, the less you need."
Above, from left: New Zealand Maori totem pole; Indonesian carved marrionette
"Many stars cannot be concealed by a small cloud." - Maori Proverb
Music Samples
AUSTRALIA (Aboriginal) - Wonga: Initiation Song - Download
AUSTRALIA (Aboriginal) - Gerbina - Download
FIJI - Coka I Rara Ni Tabua - Download
NEW-CALEDONIA (Kanak) - Le mythe de Galame - Download
ASIA
Above, from left: Balinese dancer; Thai woman
Above, from left: Japanese drum; Japanese crane painting
Japanese Proverbs
"One kind word can warm three winter months."
"Faith can move mountains"
"Experience is the mother of wisdom"
"Fall down seven times, stand up eight."
"Vision without action is a daydream; action without vision is a nightmare."
Above, from left: Chinese lion; Children of Malaysia
Chinese Proverbs
"If you are patient in a moment of anger, you will escape a hundred days of sorrow."
"A single conversation with a wise man is better than ten years of study."
"The thousand mile journey begins with a single step."
"To know the road ahead, ask those coming back."
"Enjoy yourself. It's later than you think."
Above, from left: Russian 'matryoshka' dolls; Woman of India
Music Samples
MONGOLIA - Höömii - Download
CHINA - Flowing Waters - Download
JAPAN - Yachiyo Jishi - Download
TUVA - Tyvam Hemneri (The Rivers of Tuva) - Download
SIBERIA - Au printemps, la toundra s'éveille - Download
INDIA -Farewell My Friend - Download
AFRICA
Above, from left: African tribesmen; African pottery huts
African Proverbs
"A cutting word is worse than a bowstring, a cut may heal, but the cut of the
tongue does not."
"Ashes fly back into the face of him who throws them."
"If you don't stand for something, you will fall for something."
"If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem."
"One must talk little and listen much."
Above, from left: African carved head; Senegalese family
Music Samples
SOUTH AFRICA (Zulu) - Ubaba Nomama - Download
MADAGASCAR - Omeao Tso-drano - Download
GHANA - Oba desenfo - Download
EGYPT - Elouyou - Download
THE AMERICAS
Above, from left: Native American boy in pow wow; Native American beadwork
Above, from left: Native American dreamcatcher; Native American petroglyphs
Native American Proverbs
"All plants are our brothers and sisters. They talk to us and if we listen, we can hear them." Arapaho
"Life is not separate from death. It only looks that way." Blackfoot
"Don't let yesterday use up too much of today." Cherokee
"Our first teacher is our own heart." Cheyenne
"Only when the last tree has withered, and the last fish caught, and the last river been poisoned, will we realize we cannot eat money." Cree
"Wisdom comes only when you stop looking for it and start living the life the Creator intended for you." Hopi
"Seek wisdom, not knowledge. Knowledge is of the past, Wisdom is of the future." Lumbee
Above, from left: Hawaiian hula dancers; Hawaiian petroglyphs
Above, from left: Mexican traditional dancers; Mexican mask
Above, from left: Tlingit tree carving of Alaska; Alaskan totem
Hopi Quote: "We who are clay blended by the Master Potter, come from the kiln of Creation in many hues. How can people say one skin is colored, when each has its own coloration? What should it matter that one bowl is dark and the other pale, if each is of good design and serves its purpose well." Polingaysi Qoyawayma, Hopi
Above, from left: Traditional drummer of Peru; Incan King
Above, from left: Andean child; Mayan writing
Above: Traditional style painting from Equador
Music Samples
NORTH AMERICA (Native American) - Straight Song-Morning Song - Download
MEXICO - GarciaEl Gavilancillo - Download
PERU - Inkari (Trote) - Download
POLYNESIA - Pahira is Tarapuitie - Download
EUROPE
European Proverbs
"All things good to know are difficult to learn." - Greek Proverb
"No need to teach an eagle to fly." - Greek Proverb
"He who knows little quickly tells it." - Italian Proverb
"After the game, the king and the pawn go into the same box." - Italian Proverb
"If you wish good advice, consult an old man." - Romanian Proverb
"No revenge is more honourable than the one not taken." - Spanish Proverb
"If you want to be respected, you must respect yourself." - Spanish Proverb
"Fear less, hope more, eat less, chew more, whine less, breathe more, talk less, say more, hate less, love more, and all good things will be yours." - Swedish proverb
Above, from left: Celtic cross of Ireland; Grecian pottery; Romanian boy painting egg with traditional design
Music Samples
SPAIN (Canta Flamenco) - Desunion - Download