తెలిసే వరకు బ్రహ్మవిద్య, తెలిస్తే కోతి విద్య.

telise varaku brahmavidya, teliste koti vidya.

Translation

Before you know it, it's hard ; when you know it, it's easy.

Meaning

This proverb is used to describe something that seems incredibly complex, mysterious, or impossible until you learn the secret or logic behind it. Once the skill is mastered or the trick is revealed, it appears trivial or simple. It is often used to encourage learners or to humble those who act as if their simple skills are profound.

Notes

Every thing is easy when you know it. All things are difficult before they are easy. All beginnings are hard, said the thief, and began by stealing an anvil. (Dutch.)* *Alle beginnings zijn zwaar, zei de dief, en voor de eerste maal stal hij een aanbeeld.

Related Phrases

A known devil is better than an unknown devil.

This proverb suggests that it is better to deal with a person or situation that is familiar, even if it is difficult or unpleasant, rather than facing something completely new and unpredictable. It is used when choosing between a known risk and an uncertain one.

Knowledge without a teacher is blind knowledge.

This proverb emphasizes the importance of a mentor or guide in the learning process. It suggests that self-taught knowledge without proper guidance can be incomplete, directionless, or prone to errors, much like a person walking in the dark without sight.

A Brahmin without education is like a Kshatriya without a sword.

This proverb emphasizes that an individual is defined by their core duty or skill. Just as a warrior (Kshatriya) is useless without a weapon, an intellectual or priest (Brahmin) lacks purpose and respect without knowledge. It is used to stress the importance of education and being well-equipped for one's chosen path in life.

To the one who knows, it is sesame flour; to the one who doesn't, it is oil-press waste.

This expression highlights how value and utility are perceived based on knowledge. Something that appears simple or useless to an ignorant person is recognized as valuable and beneficial by someone with expertise. It is used to describe situations where a person's skill or lack thereof determines their understanding of a task or object.

No matter how many skills one acquires, none can equal the ancestral/family trade.

This proverb emphasizes that one's innate or inherited family profession comes naturally and is often more sustainable than learned skills. It is used to highlight the importance of preserving traditional crafts or to suggest that one's true talent lies in what has been passed down through generations.

If three people know, it spreads to the three worlds

This expression is used to emphasize that a secret or a piece of information cannot be kept hidden once it is shared with even a few people. It suggests that news travels fast and will soon become public knowledge if shared beyond a single person.

Practice is a sitting craft

This proverb emphasizes that constant practice leads to mastery. It suggests that any skill can be perfected through repetition and dedication, much like a person sitting down and working consistently at a craft until it becomes second nature.

Practice [ makes ] art easy.

This proverb emphasizes that mastery comes through constant practice. Just as a child learns to sit or perform tasks through repeated effort, any skill or knowledge can be perfected only through consistent practice and perseverance. It is the Telugu equivalent of 'Practice makes perfect.'

Practice makes perfect. Custom makes all things easy.

Falling into a pit knowingly.

This expression is used when someone makes a mistake or gets into trouble despite being fully aware of the consequences or the danger beforehand. It signifies a lack of caution or ignoring warnings.

Although he knew the pit well, he fell into it.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone intentionally makes a mistake or gets into trouble despite being fully aware of the consequences or the danger beforehand.