proverb(s) questions!!!?

Question

i got 2 proverbs and i need to know what they both mean according to the book, 'Things Fall Apart' by Chinua Achebe

1) An old woman is always uneasy when dry bones are mentioned in a proverb."

2) "A man who pays respect to the great paves the way for his own greatness."




thankz!

Answer 1

An old woman can relate to dry bones, she has "been there and done that" she has 'dry bones' and she knows full well that she's made mistakes in the past and they may just come back to haunt her or she may fall down and break her own brittle, frail bones.

A man who respects the great things done by others will be appreciated to the point that he too becomes great. People sometimes have a hard time appreciating other's contributions. The person who can appreciate other's contributions becomes appreciated himself. There's something special about a person who can step outside of themselves long enough to appreciate the achievements of others.

Answer 2

I have never heard of either of these proverbs and think they are probably not from the Anglo-American tradition. They could be from almost anywhere and may actually be a translation from the original language. If these are sayings you have heard from your family or friends, think about their heritage. Sorry not to be of more help. Best Wishes