నలుగురు నడిచిందే బాట, పలువురు పలికిందే మాట

naluguru nadichinde bata, paluvuru palikinde mata

Translation

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

Meaning

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.

Related Phrases

The path walked by ten people is a road, the word spoken by ten people is the truth.

This proverb emphasizes the power of collective opinion and consensus. It suggests that when a large group of people follows a certain path or agrees on a particular statement, it gains legitimacy and becomes the established norm or truth. It is used to highlight that communal agreement carries more weight than individual opinion.

A mouse under a grain silo must live under that silo itself.

This proverb emphasizes stability, loyalty, or the necessity of sticking to one's source of livelihood. It suggests that one should find contentment and survive within the environment or resource that sustains them, rather than wandering off or being ungrateful to their source of support.

On a path walked by many, grass does not grow; even if it grows, it does not flourish.

This proverb signifies that when a task or a path is frequently used, tested, or handled by experts and the public, errors or 'weeds' are unlikely to persist. It is used to emphasize that well-trodden methods are reliable and that constant activity prevents decay or stagnation.

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.

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

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.

As long as there were harvests, the monkey survived; life after that is the real struggle.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone enjoys a comfortable life due to favorable external circumstances or resources. When those resources are exhausted, they face the harsh reality of survival. It serves as a reminder that true resilience is tested only when easy times end.

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 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 cloth is whatever the weaver weaves, and the pot is whatever the potter makes.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where one must accept whatever is provided by the person in charge or the skilled worker, as there is no other choice or alternative available. It highlights the monopoly or the final authority of the creator over the quality and form of the end product in specific circumstances.

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.