This Merina proverb emphasizes the value of bravery and courage. It suggests that it is better to take bold risks (even at the cost of one’s life) than to choose a safer, yet less honorable, path. In other words, it is more noble to face danger head-on than to flee in an attempt to avoid it. The equivalent English proverb could be ‘Nothing ventured, nothing gained’ or sometimes ‘Better to die standing than live on your knees’.