తలకు తగిలే వరకు తనకేమి తెలియదు

talaku tagile varaku tanakemi teliyadu

Translation

Until it hits the head, one knows nothing.

Meaning

This proverb is used to describe a person who does not understand the severity or consequences of a situation until they personally suffer from it or until the problem becomes unavoidable. It is similar to the English expression 'to learn the hard way.'

Related Phrases

A broad bean seed does not know its own vine.

This proverb is used to describe a person who forgets their origins or humble beginnings after achieving success. Just as a bean grows on a vine but eventually loses its connection or awareness of the plant that supported it, it refers to individuals who become arrogant or ungrateful towards their roots or the people who helped them rise.

One does not know the pain of a headache until it happens to them.

This proverb is used to describe how people often fail to empathize with others' problems or struggles until they personally experience similar hardships. It highlights the human tendency to be indifferent to others' suffering until the situation directly affects them.

There is no one who knows everything, there is no one who knows nothing.

This expression emphasizes humility and the vastness of knowledge. It suggests that no single person is an absolute expert in every field, nor is anyone completely devoid of any knowledge or skills. It is used to remind people that everyone has something to learn and everyone has something to offer.

On account of excessive fat, the bend/curve is not noticeable

This expression is used to describe a situation where a person is so consumed by pride, arrogance, or their own status that they fail to recognize their own flaws or the subtle changes around them. It can also refer to how excessive wealth or power can mask underlying problems or lack of character.

The depth is not known until one enters (the water).

This expression means that one cannot truly understand the complexity or difficulty of a situation until they are personally involved or have started the task. It is used to advise against making superficial judgments or to explain that practical experience is necessary to grasp the reality of a problem.

One does not realize the bad smell of one's own mouth.

This proverb is used to point out that people are often unaware of their own flaws, mistakes, or annoying habits, even though they are obvious to everyone else around them. It is similar to the English concept of 'being blind to one's own faults.'

Scholarship has the arrogance of knowing everything; wisdom has the humility of knowing nothing.

This expression highlights the difference between mere academic knowledge and true wisdom. Scholarship (Pandityam) often leads to pride because one thinks they have mastered a subject, whereas true wisdom (Vivekam) makes a person realize how much more there is to learn, leading to humility. It is used to encourage lifelong learning and modesty.

A merchant's true worth is not known until his death.

This proverb is used to describe someone who maintains a very secretive or private financial status. Just as a merchant's (Shetty) true assets, debts, and accounts are only revealed to the world after they pass away and the books are closed, some people's real situation or character remains a mystery to others during their lifetime.

Without eating you can't tell the taste; without going down [ into the water ] you can't know the depth. The proof of a pudding is in the eating.

This proverb emphasizes that practical experience is essential to truly understand or judge something. Just as you cannot judge a dish without tasting it or know the depth of a pond without stepping into it, you cannot understand the complexities or difficulties of a situation or task until you are personally involved in it.

There is no one who knows everything, and there is no one who knows nothing.

This proverb emphasizes that knowledge is vast and no single person can claim absolute mastery over all subjects. Similarly, every person, no matter how uneducated or simple, possesses some form of unique knowledge or skill. It is used to promote humility among the learned and respect for everyone's inherent wisdom.