గూనివాడు పడుకొనేవల్ల గూనివానికే తెలుసును.

gunivadu padukonevalla gunivanike telusunu.

Translation

The humpback alone knows how he can lie comfortably.

Meaning

This proverb conveys that only the person suffering from a specific problem or hardship truly understands its depth and the unique ways they have to cope with it. It is used to emphasize that outsiders cannot fully grasp someone else's personal struggles or the adjustments they must make to survive.

Notes

Every man kens best where his own shoe pinches. ( Scotch.)

Related Phrases

Truth will be known in time.

This proverb suggests that while lies or rumors might spread quickly or cause initial confusion, the truth eventually reveals itself over time. It is used to encourage patience during a misunderstanding or to remind someone that dishonesty cannot remain hidden forever.

Truth is the daughter of time.

An unfit person pairs with a person who has nothing.

This proverb describes the alliance of two individuals who are both lacking in some way—either in character, resources, or capability. It is used to mock an association where neither party can help the other, or to point out that people with negative traits often find common ground with those who have nothing to lose.

A hunchback's true shape/skill should be seen when they are lying down.

This proverb suggests that a person's true nature, hidden flaws, or secret skills are only revealed under specific circumstances or when they are in a certain position. Just as a hunchback's physical deformity is most apparent or uniquely positioned when they lie down, some things can only be judged or understood when the right situation arises.

One who has not is as one who is not in the world. i. e. A penniless man has nothing in the world.

This proverb highlights the harsh reality of social status and poverty. It suggests that a person without wealth or resources is often treated as if they have no place or belonging in the world, emphasizing how society values individuals based on their possessions.

The treasure is known to the man who buried it.

This expression refers to the fact that only the person who performed a specific action or hid something knows the truth or the exact location. It is used to emphasize that the source or the creator has the most accurate knowledge about a situation or an object.

A blind man's plan belongs to the blind man, and a hunchback's plan belongs to the hunchback.

This proverb implies that everyone has their own unique way of thinking, limitations, or perspectives based on their personal circumstances. It is often used to suggest that one person's logic or solution might not be applicable or understandable to others, or that individuals act according to their own specific nature and constraints.

The destination of the wind is known only to the wind.

This expression is used to describe a situation where only the person involved truly understands their own path, secrets, or internal state. It is often applied to people whose movements or intentions are unpredictable or mysterious to others, suggesting that one cannot judge or know what another is going through unless they are in their shoes.

The weight of a load is known to him who carries it. No one knows the weight of another's burden.

This expression means that only the person performing a task or enduring a struggle truly understands the difficulty or burden involved. It is used to suggest that outsiders should not judge or underestimate someone's hardship without experiencing it themselves.

The lame man's struggles are his own, and the hunchback's struggles are his own.

This expression means that every person has their own unique set of problems and struggles which only they truly understand and endure. It is used to emphasize that one cannot compare or diminish someone's hardship, as everyone is preoccupied with their own specific challenges in life.

Like one who does not know the alphabet attempting multiplication.

This proverb is used to describe a person who lacks basic, fundamental knowledge of a subject yet attempts to perform complex tasks within that field. It highlights the absurdity of someone skipping the basics and trying to handle advanced matters, leading to inevitable failure or confusion.