ne en unu tago elkreskis Kartago

Literally "Carthage was not built in a day". In English and other languages, the proverb Rome wasn't built in a day is more common; the change to Carthage makes the Esperanto proverb rhyme.

• • IPA^(key):
  • Rhymes: -aɡo
  • Hyphenation: ne en u‧nu ta‧go el‧kres‧kis Kar‧ta‧go

• Audio:

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ne en unu tago elkreskis Kartago

1. Rome wasn't built in a day; it takes a long time to create something complicated or impressive.
   • 1904, L. L. Zamenhof, “Proverboj”, in Lingvo internacia, Vol. 9, N-ro 11, page 344:

     Ne en unu tago elkreskis Kartago.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • 1995 March 19, Manuel M Campagna, “Re: malbona sxerco”, in soc.culture.esperanto‎ (Usenet), message-ID <[email protected]>:

     Memoru ankavx, ke preskavx nur en Nord-Ameriko kaj kelkaj nordevxropaj landoj okazas batalado por la emancipigxo de virinoj kaj gejoj. Necesas eduki niajn saminternacilingvanojn.
     "Ne en unu tago
     Elkreskis Kartago."

     Also remember that the struggle for the emancipation of women and gays is almost exclusive to North America and some northern European countries. It is necessary to educate our fellow international language users. "Rome wasn't built in a day."

   • 2002 April, Guido van Damme, “Puno ne sen peno”, in Monato‎, →ISSN, page 15:

     Ne en unu tago elkreskis Kartago
     Tamen, kiam alvenis la 5an de marto la unua junulo, evidentiĝis, ke la domego estas nur parte preta. Krome mankis edukistoj por prizorgi la knabon.

     Rome wasn't built in a day
     However, when on March 5 the first youth came, it became obvious that the block was only partially ready. In addition, there was a lack of educators to look after the boy.

• Felix Woolf (1982) English phrases and expressions in Esperanto (in Esperanto), page 90:

  ROME WAS NOT BUILT IN A DAY
  ne en unu tago elkreskis Kartago.