పని చేయనివాడు ఇంటికి దొంగ, పన్ను ఇవ్వనివాడు దివాణానికి దొంగ
pani cheyanivadu intiki donga, pannu ivvanivadu divananiki donga
The one who does not work is a thief to the house; the one who does not pay taxes is a thief to the government.
This proverb highlights personal and civic responsibilities. It suggests that a family member who doesn't contribute labor is a burden to the household, just as a citizen who evades taxes is a traitor to the state (divanam). It is used to emphasize that laziness and tax evasion are both forms of dishonesty.
Related Phrases
ఒళ్ళు వంగనివాడు దొంగలతో కలిసినాడట.
ollu vanganivadu dongalato kalisinadata.
The one who doesn't bend his body (lazy person) supposedly joined a gang of thieves.
This proverb is used to describe a person who is so lazy and averse to hard work that they prefer to take the shortcut of joining criminals rather than putting in manual effort. It highlights how laziness can lead a person toward a path of dishonesty or crime.
ఇచ్చినవాడు దాత, ఇవ్వనివాడు పాత
ichchinavadu data, ivvanivadu pata
He who gives is a donor, he who does not give is a clout.
This expression highlights that generosity earns a person respect and a lasting legacy. A person who helps others is remembered as a benefactor, whereas someone who is stingy or refuses to help is quickly forgotten or disregarded by society. It is used to encourage charity and reflect on the social value of giving.
The impertinent speech of a beggar.
కానివాడు లేనివానితో జత.
kanivadu lenivanito jata.
An unfit person pairs with a person who has nothing.
This proverb describes the alliance of two individuals who are both lacking in some way—either in character, resources, or capability. It is used to mock an association where neither party can help the other, or to point out that people with negative traits often find common ground with those who have nothing to lose.
వైద్యము నేరనివాడూ, వానకు తడియనివాడూ లేడు.
vaidyamu neranivadu, vanaku tadiyanivadu ledu.
There is not a man who knows not medicine, nor one who has not been wet by rain. Every man is a fool or a physician at forty.
This proverb highlights that basic medical knowledge (home remedies) is common among everyone, just as experiencing rain is universal. It is often used to suggest that everyone has some level of practical wisdom or that certain life experiences are unavoidable and shared by all.
ఓపనివాడు కోరనిదీ, ఓల్లనివాడు ఆడనిదీ లేదు.
opanivadu koranidi, ollanivadu adanidi ledu.
There is nothing a lazy person doesn't wish for, and nothing a hater doesn't say.
This proverb describes two types of people: a lazy person (opani vaadu) who desires everything without wanting to work for it, and a spiteful person (ollani vaadu) who will resort to any lie or criticism against someone they dislike. It is used to highlight the hypocrisy of wanting results without effort or the tendency of people to badmouth those they are biased against.
దొంగకు దొంగ తోడు
dongaku donga todu
A thief is a companion to another thief
This expression is used to describe how people with similar bad habits, questionable characters, or dishonest intentions tend to support and protect each other. It is equivalent to the English proverb 'Birds of a feather flock together' or 'Honor among thieves', often used in a negative context to highlight collusion between wrongdoers.
ఓపనివాడు కోరనిదీ, ఒంటనివాడు ఆడనిదీ లేదు.
opanivadu koranidi, ontanivadu adanidi ledu.
There is nothing which an invalid will not ask for; and there is nothing which an envious man will not say.
This proverb describes human nature regarding laziness and jealousy. It implies that a person who is unable or unwilling to work (incapable) often makes grand demands or wishes for things without effort, while a person who cannot tolerate others' success (envious) will spread rumors or say anything to belittle them. It is used to criticize those who talk big but do nothing, or those who gossip out of spite.
పని చేయనివాడు ఇంటికి దొంగ, పన్ను ఇవ్వనివాడు దివాణానికి దొంగ.
pani cheyanivadu intiki donga, pannu ivvanivadu divananiki donga.
A man who does not work robs the house, a man who pays no taxes robs the government.
This proverb emphasizes the importance of fulfilling one's responsibilities. Just as a lazy person who consumes resources without contributing is a burden to their family, a person who evades taxes is considered a criminal against the government or society. It is used to highlight that negligence of duty is a form of dishonesty.
* Dat is het ambacht van dikken Michiel: drinken, eten, en wandelen.
కానివాడు లేనివాడితో జత
kanivadu lenivadito jata
An unfriendly person is equal to one that is not.
This expression is used to describe a situation where two people who are equally useless, incapable, or lacking resources join forces. It implies that their partnership will be unproductive because neither has the means or character to succeed or help the other. It is often used to mock an alliance that is destined for failure.
వైద్యం నేర్వనివాడు, వానకు తడియనివాడు లేడు.
vaidyam nervanivadu, vanaku tadiyanivadu ledu.
There is no one who has never learned medicine, and no one who has never been soaked in the rain.
This proverb highlights that in life, everyone eventually gains some practical knowledge about health and remedies through personal experience with ailments. Similarly, just as it is impossible to stay dry if one is out in the rain, it is impossible to live a life without encountering and learning how to treat common illnesses. It is used to suggest that everyone possesses a basic level of medical intuition or 'home remedy' knowledge.