The proverb ‘Mantsafa mahita toy ny mpaka afo’ stresses the importance of being ready to act swiftly in urgent situations, just like someone setting out to fetch fire for immediate use. In ancient times, fire was essential for survival, so someone going to fetch it couldn’t afford to dawdle. This proverb encourages promptness and dynamism in our approach to life. An equivalent English proverb might be ‘There is no time to lose’.