సాలెవాడితో మాలవాడితో సావాసం పనికిరాదు

salevadito malavadito savasam panikiradu

Translation

Association with a weaver or a laborer is not advisable.

Meaning

This is an old proverb reflecting historical social prejudices. It suggests that associating with certain groups (historically based on caste or occupation) might lead to complications or is unsuitable for one's status. In a modern context, it is used to caution against keeping company with people who have incompatible lifestyles or those who might cause trouble, though it is largely considered outdated due to its discriminatory roots.

Related Phrases

With many people death is equal to marriage. Applied to an honorable death in a good cause.

This proverb suggests that when a misfortune or hardship is shared by many, it becomes easier to bear. Just as a wedding is a communal celebration, facing a difficult situation as a group provides collective strength and comfort, making even a 'death-like' situation feel less burdensome.

They say one should not walk with a person who is in debt or a person wearing footwear.

This proverb advises against traveling with people who might slow you down or bring trouble. A person in debt might be stopped by creditors, causing delays or embarrassment to the companion. Similarly, in ancient times, walking with someone wearing sandals while you were barefoot (or vice-versa) created a mismatch in pace and social comfort. It is used to suggest that choosing the right company is essential for a smooth journey or venture.

Death along with ten people is equal to a wedding

This expression means that when a difficulty or disaster is shared by many, it becomes easier to bear. It suggests that collective suffering reduces individual pain or that facing a challenge as a group provides a sense of solidarity and comfort, similar to the shared joy of a wedding.

Death along with many people is equivalent to a wedding.

This proverb suggests that when a misfortune or a difficult situation is shared by a large group, it becomes easier to bear. It reflects the human psychological comfort found in solidarity during times of crisis, implying that suffering alone is a tragedy, but suffering together is a shared experience.

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.

The work of the one who eats pieces is better than the work of the one who makes the bread.

This proverb suggests that it is often easier and more beneficial to enjoy the final result or small portions of a task rather than undertaking the heavy labor of creating it from scratch. It is used to describe situations where consuming or distributing is less burdensome than the actual production or hard labor.

Crop cannot sustain with dairy (cattle) alone.

This proverb highlights the difficulty of managing both agriculture and livestock simultaneously without sufficient resources or labor. It implies that if one is busy looking after the cattle, the fields might be neglected, or vice versa, emphasizing that managing multiple intensive tasks at once requires great effort and coordination.

Wages do not suffice for food, and a mean person does not submit to anyone's control.

This proverb is used to describe a situation of extreme inefficiency or futility. It suggests that just as meager wages are insufficient to provide even a basic meal, a person with a low or stubborn character (leki) is impossible to manage or reform. It is often used to remark on someone who is both unproductive and unmanageable.

Do not fight with a person wearing footwear or a person who is in debt.

This proverb advises caution when picking fights. A person with footwear has a physical advantage in a scuffle, while a person in heavy debt has nothing left to lose and may act desperately or recklessly. It serves as a warning to consider the opponent's situation before engaging in conflict.

Young age cultivation does not yield the desired result.

This proverb is used to suggest that certain tasks require maturity, experience, and patience rather than just youthful energy or haste. Just as farming needs seasoned knowledge to get a good harvest, important life goals cannot be achieved through impulsive actions or lack of experience. It emphasizes the value of wisdom over raw enthusiasm.