మునిగే వానికి తెలుసు నీటి లోతు.

munige vaniki telusu niti lotu.

Translation

Only the one who sinks knows the depth of the water.

Meaning

This proverb means that only the person who is actually experiencing a difficult situation or problem understands the true extent of its gravity. It is used to suggest that outsiders or observers cannot fully grasp the challenges or pain someone is going through until they are in their shoes.

Related Phrases

The one who hides the wealth knows, and the one who records the account also knows.

This proverb is used to indicate that secrets related to money or hidden actions are usually known by two types of people: the one who performed the act and the one who maintains the records or details. It implies that truth cannot be hidden forever when there is documentation or a second party involved.

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.

Like dropping the neighbor's child into the water to check its depth.

This expression is used to describe a person who is extremely selfish or cautious to a fault, risking others' well-being to test a dangerous situation before committing themselves. It highlights a lack of empathy and the tendency to use others as scapegoats or guinea pigs.

There is no morality without profanity.

This expression suggests that to truly understand or highlight what is moral and righteous, one must also acknowledge or encounter the base, crude, or immoral aspects of life. It implies that wisdom often comes from experiencing or witnessing the 'raw' realities of the world, or that strict moral lessons often stem from instances of bad behavior.

What does a donkey know about the scent of sandalwood powder?

This proverb is used to describe a person who lacks the refinement, knowledge, or aesthetic sense to appreciate the value or quality of something superior. It is similar to the English expression 'casting pearls before swine.'

The depth is not known until one enters (the water).

This expression means that one cannot truly understand the complexity or difficulty of a situation until they are personally involved or have started the task. It is used to advise against making superficial judgments or to explain that practical experience is necessary to grasp the reality of a problem.

The son-in-law's blindness will be revealed once it's morning.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where a major defect or a harsh truth cannot be hidden for long, no matter how much one tries to conceal it initially. Just as a son-in-law might hide his vision problems during the night of the wedding, the truth inevitably comes to light when circumstances change (daylight). It is applied to deceptive situations or hidden flaws that are bound to be exposed eventually.

One who is an expert, one who resolves, and one who is useful is the one who eventually drowns.

This expression suggests that those who are most capable, helpful, or involved in solving problems are often the ones who end up bearing the brunt of the consequences or finding themselves in trouble. It is similar to the idea that the most skilled swimmer is the one most likely to drown because they take the most risks.

When one was drowning and another asked if he knew how to swim, he replied 'I know' even while sinking.

This expression is used to mock someone who is too proud to admit their failure or lack of knowledge even when they are in a desperate or losing situation. It highlights the foolishness of maintaining a false ego while facing total ruin.

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.