న్యాయమమ్మేవాడు, దోవలు చూసేవాడు ఒకటే.

nyayamammevadu, dovalu chusevadu okate.

Translation

The one who sells justice and the one who looks for loopholes are both the same.

Meaning

This expression is used to criticize corruption and moral dishonesty. It suggests that a person who takes bribes to manipulate the law is just as guilty as the person who actively seeks ways to evade or cheat the system. Both contribute equally to the downfall of justice.

Related Phrases

When there is no room for him to pass himself, he hangs a big drum round his neck. Said of a man who tries to provide for another, when he has diffi- culty in managing for himself.

This proverb describes a person who is already in a difficult or impossible situation but takes on additional, unnecessary burdens that make progress even harder. It is used to mock someone who lacks the capacity to handle their own basic problems yet complicates them with extra responsibilities or shows of vanity.

A person without cattle and a person without children are the same.

In traditional agrarian societies, cattle were considered as vital as family members for one's livelihood and legacy. This expression highlights the essential role of livestock in prosperity, implying that lacking them is as significant a loss as not having heirs to carry on the family name or support the household.

The one who is drunk and the one who has failed are the same.

This expression is used to highlight that people who are in an intoxicated state and those who have lost their sense of judgment or morals are equally unreliable. It suggests that both categories of people lack accountability for their actions and cannot be trusted or held to the same standards as a rational person.

A mother looks at the stomach; a wife looks at the back.

This proverb contrasts the nature of love and expectations. A mother's concern is primarily for her child's well-being and whether they have eaten (the stomach), reflecting selfless care. In contrast, a wife is traditionally depicted as looking at the 'back' to see what her husband has brought home (burdens or earnings), symbolizing the practical expectations and responsibilities within a marriage.

One who is diseased and one who is forced into labor are the same.

This proverb highlights that a person suffering from a disease and a person forced into unpaid manual labor (vetti) share a similar plight—both lose their freedom of will and are under a constant state of suffering or compulsion. It is used to describe situations where a person has no choice but to endure hardship.

The one who loots and gets away is a lord, the one who gets caught is a thief.

This proverb highlights the irony of social status and justice. It suggests that if a person commits a large-scale crime but manages to escape or hide it, they are often respected as a great person or leader. However, the one who gets caught, even for a minor offense, is branded a criminal. It is used to comment on the hypocrisy of society and the flaw in identifying criminals solely based on their capture.

My husband is a dummy; it's the same whether he is there or not.

This proverb is used to describe a person who is completely useless or ineffective. It implies that their presence provides no benefit, and their absence makes no difference, much like a decorative figure or a person with no initiative.

There are a thousand paths to one village.

This expression means that there are many ways to achieve a goal or solve a problem. It is used to suggest flexibility and that one shouldn't be discouraged if one particular method fails, as alternative approaches exist.

Treating a horse and a donkey as the same.

This expression is used to describe a situation where no distinction is made between excellence and mediocrity, or between something valuable and something worthless. It highlights a lack of judgment or fairness when a person of great merit is treated the same as someone with none.

There are a thousand ways to a village. Every man in his way. There are more ways to the wood than one.

This expression is used to signify that there are many different ways or methods to achieve the same goal or reach the same destination. It encourages flexibility and emphasizes that one should not be discouraged if one particular path is blocked, as alternatives exist.