చెప్పేవాడికి సిగ్గు లేకపోతే వినేవాడికైనా వివేకం ఉండాలి

cheppevadiki siggu lekapote vinevadikaina vivekam undali

Translation

When the slanderer has no shame should not the hearer at least use discrimination? Should he not swallow it cum grano salis? Though the speaker be a fool let the hearer be wise. (Spanish.)* Hear the other side, and believe little. (Italian.)† Every man's tale is gude till anither's be tauld. (Scots.)

Meaning

This proverb is used when someone is making unreasonable demands, telling blatant lies, or talking nonsense. It suggests that even if the speaker is being foolish or shameless, the listener should be wise enough to ignore them or not take them seriously.

Related Phrases

A pig-headed fellow [feels] no shame, the trunk of a tree [feels] no wind.

This proverb is used to describe a person who is completely indifferent to criticism, insults, or social expectations. Just as a dead, leafless tree stump is unaffected by the blowing wind, a thick-skinned or shameless person remains unmoved and unbothered regardless of how much they are shamed or corrected by others.

Where there is no love, there is no delight.

This proverb explains that without passion, attachment, or desire (Mohamu) for something, one cannot experience true happiness or delight (Modamu) in achieving or having it. It highlights that interest is the prerequisite for enjoyment.

Charity is distant to a miser, and wisdom is distant to a fool.

This proverb describes inherent limitations of certain characters. A miser, by nature, cannot think of being charitable or righteous because of their obsession with hoarding. Similarly, a person who lacks common sense or works mindlessly (vetty) cannot be expected to possess wisdom or discernment. It is used to suggest that one shouldn't expect noble qualities from people whose nature is fundamentally opposed to them.

If you have no common food, [give me] the best; if you have no common cloth, [give me] a silk one.

This is a sarcastic expression used to describe someone who, when they lack basic necessities, demands or expects high-end luxuries instead of seeking practical alternatives. It highlights the irony of having extravagant tastes or unrealistic expectations while being in a state of poverty or deprivation.

Said by an impertinent beggar when refused assistance by a stingy person.

For the one who asks, the one who answers seems inferior in status.

It is easier to put questions than to answer them. It is therefore necessary to be considerate to others and raise only genuine doubts for proper clarification.

If the speaker has no shame, shouldn't the listener at least have some wisdom?

This proverb is used when someone is telling blatant lies, making absurd claims, or giving nonsensical advice. It suggests that even if the speaker is being unreasonable or shameless, the listener should use their own common sense and critical thinking to not be fooled.

If the teller has no shame, shouldn't the listener have some common sense?

This expression is used when someone is telling blatant lies, making absurd claims, or giving bad advice. It suggests that even if the speaker is being unreasonable or shameless, the listener should use their own intelligence and discretion to evaluate the information rather than blindly believing or following it.

Each person's madness is their own joy.

This proverb suggests that everyone has their own unique eccentricities, hobbies, or obsessions that might seem irrational to others but bring great satisfaction to themselves. It is used to express that happiness is subjective and one shouldn't judge what makes another person happy, even if it seems foolish.

The one who speaks has no shame, and the one who listens has no sense of discretion.

This proverb is used to criticize a situation where someone is talking nonsense or lies shamelessly, and the listener is foolish enough to keep listening without questioning or feeling offended. It highlights a lack of standards in both the speaker and the audience.

If the speaker is obsessive or foolish, shouldn't the listener have common sense?

This proverb is used when someone gives unreasonable advice or tells nonsense. It implies that even if a speaker is being irrational or repetitive, the listener should use their own judgment and intelligence to filter the information instead of blindly following or believing it.