తేనె తీసినవాడు చేయి నాకకపోవునా?

tene tisinavadu cheyi nakakapovuna?

Translation

Will the person who harvests honey not lick his hand?

Meaning

This proverb implies that someone who handles a valuable resource or manages a profitable task will inevitably gain some personal benefit or take a small share for themselves. It is often used to describe situations where people in positions of power or those handling finances take a 'cut' or benefit from the process.

Related Phrases

He that ate is he that bought. If you want any thing, you must pay for it. Nothing is had for nothing. (French.)

This expression emphasizes that the person who pays for something or takes the risk of purchasing it is the one who truly enjoys the benefits or consequences of it. In a broader sense, it suggests that ownership or direct investment leads to the right of consumption or usage.

It is the fault of the one who removed the bamboo screen.

This proverb is used to illustrate how someone who exposes a pre-existing flaw or enters a vulnerable situation is often blamed, even if they didn't create the underlying issue. It also suggests that the person who takes the final action or breaks a silence is the one held responsible for the consequences.

A plucked chicken and a leaf with its ribs removed.

This expression is used to describe a person or a situation that has been stripped of all strength, dignity, or resources. Just as a chicken without feathers or a leaf without its veins/ribs is weak and lacks structure, it refers to someone who is left completely helpless or impoverished.

The elbow turns only when the forearm turns.

This expression emphasizes the importance of taking initial small steps or making basic adjustments before expecting a significant change. It signifies that a major outcome or shift is dependent on a specific, smaller action being completed first. It is often used to describe sequential progress or dependencies in life.

The one who does injustice is lower than the one who suffers it.

This proverb highlights a moral perspective on injustice. It suggests that while the victim of injustice suffers physically or materially, the perpetrator suffers a greater moral and spiritual degradation. In a societal sense, it implies that being an oppressor is ethically worse than being the oppressed.

Like a niche with the lamp taken out of it. The reality wanting.

This expression is used to describe a place or a person that looks dull, empty, or devoid of life and charm. Just as a wall niche looks dark and hollow once the lamp is taken away, it characterizes a state of desolation or the loss of a person who was the 'light' of a home or group.

Like the flood subsiding. Perfect stillness after a tumult. After a storm comes a calm.

This expression is used to describe something that has been done with extreme precision, neatness, or perfection. It is most commonly used to compliment beautiful handwriting, straight lines, or a very well-executed task that looks flawlessly continuous and smooth.

There is no one who lived by plowing the wet land or was ruined by working the farm field.

This proverb emphasizes the dignity and reliability of agriculture. It suggests that hard work in farming consistently provides a livelihood and never leads to a person's downfall. It is used to encourage people to trust in honest labor and the fertility of the land.

Like throwing away the jaggery and licking the hand.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone lets go of a valuable asset or a major opportunity and tries to find satisfaction in the minor, insignificant remnants. It highlights poor decision-making and the foolishness of missing the main point while focusing on the trivial.

Even if the girl doesn't come, won't the yawns come?

This expression is used to describe a situation where certain natural or inevitable consequences occur regardless of the main person or event's presence. It often implies that while the primary expectation wasn't met, the associated habits, side effects, or unavoidable routines still manifest.