The proverb means that conflicts and disputes are often fueled by slanderers or people who seek to create tension. Just as a fire needs wood to burn, quarrels arise and grow thanks to those who sow discord. This can be compared to the English proverb: ‘There is no smoke without fire,’ which indicates that there is some truth behind every rumor; however, in the Malagasy context, the emphasis is more on the role of malicious individuals in creating these conflicted situations.