This proverb speaks of the comparison between material values and spiritual values. Andrianampoinimerina, a king of the Merina people, considered that the boundaries of his kingdom were marked by the sea. In contrast, for ordinary people, it is love and affection that determine the depth of their relationships. This proverb emphasizes the importance of love and affection in human relationships. In English, we have a similar proverb: ‘Love is the measure of all things.’