మెత్తనివాణ్ణి చూస్తే మొత్తబుద్ధి అవుతుంది

mettanivanni chuste mottabuddhi avutundi

Translation

Seeing a soft person makes one want to strike them

Meaning

This expression refers to the human tendency to take advantage of or bully those who are gentle, submissive, or overly kind. It is used to describe situations where someone's politeness is mistaken for weakness, leading others to exploit them.

Related Phrases

A man's mind is a blunt mind, a woman's mind is a subtle/sharp mind.

This proverb contrasts the psychological natures of men and women. It suggests that men tend to be more straightforward, rough, or simple-minded (motu), whereas women possess a more complex, strategic, or far-reaching intelligence (apara buddhi). It is often used to comment on how women can see through situations or plan more effectively than men.

The sight of a beggar rouses a poor man's anger.

This expression describes the envy or resentment felt between people in similar unfortunate circumstances. It is often used when someone who is struggling themselves looks down upon or feels competitive towards another person who is also in need, rather than showing empathy.

Said impertinently by a beggar when he gets nothing.

Upon seeing a soft-natured person, one feels like hitting them.

This proverb describes the human tendency to exploit or take advantage of those who are mild-mannered, gentle, or submissive. It suggests that people often bully or dominate those who do not resist or stand up for themselves.

Looking at one person makes you want to give, looking at another makes you want to hit.

This expression describes how human behavior and generosity are often reactive to a person's character or attitude. It implies that some people naturally evoke kindness and charity, while others, due to their behavior or nature, provoke irritation or anger.

Looking at the husband causes irritation, but looking at a widow (mistress) brings delight.

This proverb is used to describe a person who dislikes or finds fault with their own family or legitimate responsibilities but shows great enthusiasm and affection for outsiders or improper things. It highlights misplaced priorities and hypocrisy in one's behavior.

If you are soft, people will feel like hitting you on the head.

This proverb is used to warn that if a person is too submissive, overly kind, or weak, others will naturally try to take advantage of them or mistreat them. It suggests that one must maintain a certain level of firmness to command respect.

Man's intellect is crude, woman's intellect is subtle/deeper.

This proverb highlights a traditional observation about gendered thinking styles. It suggests that men tend to have a blunt or straightforward approach (motu), whereas women possess a more refined, intricate, or farsighted perspective (avara). It is used to contrast the simplicity of a man's logic with the complexity and depth of a woman's intuition.

The trusted buffalo turned out to be a male (bull) buffalo.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where something or someone you relied upon or had high expectations for ultimately fails to deliver or turns out to be useless. It specifically refers to the disappointment when a cow/buffalo expected to give milk turns out to be a male, which cannot.

Seeing one person makes you want to give, seeing another makes you want to hit

This proverb describes how different people's behavior or character evokes different reactions. One person's kindness or need inspires generosity, while another person's arrogance or annoyance provokes irritation and the urge to scold or strike them.

When she looked at her husband with the eye which had beheld the king, she had a mind to thump him.

This proverb describes a situation where a person, after witnessing someone of great power, beauty, or wealth, starts to find their own humble circumstances or partner inferior. It is used to caution against comparing one's own blessings with extraordinary exceptions, which leads to unnecessary discontentment or disdain for what one already has.