డబ్బును చూసి భయంగాని, బుద్ధిని చూసి కాదు.

dabbunu chusi bhayangani, buddhini chusi kadu.

Translation

Fear is for the money, not for the wisdom.

Meaning

This expression is used to describe a situation where people respect or fear someone only because of their wealth and social status, rather than their character, intelligence, or integrity. It highlights the materialistic nature of society.

Related Phrases

Look at the mother before choosing the daughter; look at the milk before buying the buffalo.

This proverb emphasizes that heredity, upbringing, and proven quality are essential factors when making long-term commitments or choices. Just as a buffalo's value is determined by its milk yield, a person's character and traits are often influenced by their lineage and parental upbringing. It is commonly used as advice when considering marriage alliances.

On seeing the swelling, she took it as a sign of growing strength

Swelling is not healthy growth. We should be wise in our judgment and should not rush to conclusions, by merely noting the external appearances.

Like the fox branding itself, to match the tiger’s stripes.

The reference is to ordinary person trying to pretend that he is a great man by imitating mere external features and mannerism of a great person. By such efforts one only makes a fool of oneself.

Anger upon seeing an enemy, peace upon seeing a saint

This expression describes the natural human tendency to react differently based on the person encountered. It implies that our internal state—whether aggressive or calm—is often a reflection of the company we keep or the character of the person standing before us. It is used to suggest that one should strive for emotional balance or to describe how someone's demeanor shifts instantly depending on their surroundings.

Look at the house first, then look at the housewife.

This proverb suggests that the state of a home reflects the character, management skills, and discipline of the person maintaining it. It is often used to imply that one can understand a person's nature and habits by observing their surroundings and how they manage their household.

Like a green leaf laughing at a dry, yellow leaf.

This proverb is used to criticize the arrogance of the youth who mock the elderly. Just as a green leaf (youth) will eventually become a dry leaf (old age), young people should realize that they will also age and face the same frailties they currently mock in others.

Seeing the hanging breasts of the goddess, the ascetic rejoiced.

This proverb is used to describe a person who gets unnecessarily excited or finds joy in things that are actually a sign of decay, old age, or poor condition. In the context of the saying, sagging breasts (due to age or lack of care) are mistaken for something desirable by a foolish person who lacks discernment.

Like a buffalo getting a branding mark after seeing a spotted deer.

This proverb describes the foolishness of blindly imitating others who are naturally superior or different, only to end up hurting oneself. It refers to someone trying to achieve a natural trait of another (like the beautiful spots of a deer) through painful and artificial means (like branding a buffalo), which ultimately results in futile suffering.

Look at Uttara and lift the basket

This is a traditional agricultural proverb related to the 'Uttara' Nakshatra (monsoon rain period). It implies that once the Uttara rains begin, the harvest season is ending or the rains will be so heavy that one should pack up their tools and prepare for the next stage. In a broader sense, it means to act promptly according to the signs of the environment or timing.

Hiding upon seeing the mother-in-law, throwing away upon seeing the child.

This expression refers to a person who is hypocritical or selective in their behavior based on self-interest. It describes someone who acts disciplined or stingy in front of authority figures (like a mother-in-law) to make a good impression, but becomes careless or overly generous when dealing with those who have no power over them (like a child).