నలుగురు నడిచేది దారి, పదుగురు చెప్పేది నీతి.

naluguru nadichedi dari, paduguru cheppedi niti.

Translation

The path many walk is the road, the principle many speak is the ethics.

Meaning

This proverb suggests that collective wisdom and common practice define what is right or acceptable in a society. It is used to emphasize following established traditions or conforming to the consensus of the community rather than acting in isolation.

Related Phrases

Even a blade of grass will not grow on a path walked by four (many) people.

This expression signifies that constant use, movement, or activity in a particular place prevents any growth or change from taking root. It is often used to describe how popular systems or well-trodden paths stay clear and functional through sheer volume of use, or metaphorically, how constant scrutiny prevents secrets from growing.

It is like four people laughed, and it is like my word is fulfilled.

This proverb is used sarcastically to describe a situation where someone's advice or prediction was ignored, leading to a public failure or an embarrassing outcome. It highlights the irony of being 'proven right' only after a disaster has occurred, where the 'satisfaction' of being right is overshadowed by the mockery or laughter of the crowd.

Those who speak the truth are young children and drunkards

This expression suggests that innocent children and people under the influence of alcohol lack the filters or inhibitions to lie. It is used to imply that truth often comes from the most unlikely or unfiltered sources.

The advice is given at the ear, but it is heard at the mortar.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone is told something important or confidential, but they are distracted or completely ignoring the advice. It signifies that the listener is not paying attention, similar to someone leaning towards a grinding stone (mortar) while someone else is trying to whisper in their ear.

The one who bites is the sugarcane, the one who catches it is Hanuman.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone performs a difficult task but the credit or the consequence goes to someone else, or when expectations are mismatched with reality. It is often a humorous take on misattribution or the peculiar nature of a task.

Even moss doesn't grow on a path frequented by many people.

This proverb highlights that frequent use or constant activity prevents stagnation and decay. It is often used to emphasize that skills stay sharp with practice, or that a place that is well-maintained and busy remains clean and functional. It suggests that consistent action keeps things from withering away.

The daughter-in-law flaunts herself, while the mother-in-law shouts.

This proverb describes a domestic dynamic where one person (often the daughter-in-law) enjoys a relaxed or stylish lifestyle, while another person (the mother-in-law) is left with the stress, frustration, or the burden of managing things, often leading to constant complaining or yelling. It is used to highlight situations where one person's comfort causes another's irritation.

The path walked by many is the safest.

This expression suggests that it is wiser and safer to follow a well-established method or tradition that has been tested by others rather than taking a risky, unknown path. It is used to advocate for conventional wisdom and proven practices.

The path walked by four (the majority) is the way; the word spoken by many is the truth.

This proverb emphasizes social consensus and the power of the majority. It suggests that a path becomes established only when many people follow it, and a statement gains the weight of truth or law when it is widely accepted by the community. It is used to describe following traditions or acknowledging public opinion.

When a tiger falls into a pit (or is weakened), everyone throws a stone at it.

This proverb describes a situation where when a powerful or influential person falls from grace or faces a downfall, even the common or weak people who were previously afraid of them will take the opportunity to criticize, mock, or attack them. It is used to illustrate how people react to someone's loss of power or misfortune.