Adages from the desert dunes...

[Ashes]

JIHAENS!  WHAT IS YOUR PROFESSION!

I'm kidding:

Empty your mug that it may be filled.  As in:

The ragged, braid-bearded man exclaims, in sirihish:
        "Quit pretendin' y'know your ass from a hole in the ground, Runner, an' fuckin' listen!"

[Xagon]

Give a man a fire, and he'll stay warm for a few hours.
Set a man on fire, and he'll stay warm for the rest of his life.
---
Hunt for a man, he stays fed for a few hours.
Teach a man to hunt, he stays fed for the rest of his life.

[HaiWolfe]

It is wise to bring some water, when one goes out to look for water.
  - Arabic proverb

Life is unbearable, but death is not so pleasant either.
  - Assyrian proverb

[Devilb0y]

This Malay proverb seems kind of appropriate:

The language you speak would tell us your race.

Not entirely sure how that's a proverb, but it's certainly suitable.

I've always liked Zig Ziggler's one:

Where you start is not as important as where you finish.

And a cheeky Japanese one:

Not to know is to be a Buddha.

All about acknowledging one's own ignorance in order to gain clarity. Very applicable to newbies such as myself. Obviously needs a bit of Zalanthanisation.