తొత్తువలె పాటుపడి, దొరవలె తినవలెను.

tottuvale patupadi, doravale tinavalenu.

Translation

One must work like a slut and eat like a gentleman.

Meaning

This proverb emphasizes the dignity of labor and the reward of hard work. It suggests that one should work with extreme humility and diligence (like a servant) in order to eventually enjoy a life of luxury and comfort (like a master/lord). It is used to encourage someone to put in hard effort now for a better future.

Related Phrases

Coming like a mountain and ending up like a piece of cork.

This expression describes a situation or problem that initially appeared massive, daunting, or overwhelming (like a mountain) but turned out to be insignificant, trivial, or easily resolved (like light cork) in the end. It is often used to describe anticlimactic events or when a big threat fizzles out into nothing.

He eats like a bullock, and sleeps like a log.

This expression is used to describe a person who is extremely lazy or unproductive. It refers to someone who spends their entire time eating heavily and then sleeping soundly without doing any work or showing any responsibility.

One must work like a buffalo, and eat like a gentleman.

This proverb emphasizes the value of hard work and its rewards. It suggests that one should toil rigorously and tirelessly (like a buffalo in the fields) during their working years or phase so that they can eventually enjoy a life of luxury, comfort, and dignity (like a lord or nobleman).

If it stretches, one should leave it; if one slips, one should fall.

This proverb advises adaptability and acceptance of circumstances. It suggests that if something can be extended or managed, do so; but if a situation becomes uncontrollable or a failure is inevitable (like slipping), one should accept the outcome rather than struggling pointlessly. It is often used to describe going with the flow or being practical about one's limitations.

Coming like a mountain and dissolving like mist.

This expression is used to describe a situation or problem that initially appears massive, overwhelming, or extremely dangerous, but eventually resolves itself easily or disappears without causing any significant impact. It is similar to the English phrase 'much ado about nothing' or describes a threat that turns out to be harmless.

Like an ant that has found a bundle of food.

This expression is used to describe a person who is extremely busy, preoccupied, or hyper-focused on a task, similar to how an ant becomes intensely active and focused once it discovers a food source (bundle/mulle) to carry back to its nest.

Coming like a needle and turning out a packing needle. The reverse of No. 688 q. v.

This expression is used to describe a situation where something starts very small, modest, or harmless (like a tiny needle) but eventually grows into something large, intrusive, or problematic (like a thick bodkin/large needle). It is often used to refer to people who enter one's life humbly but end up becoming a major burden or dominating the space.

Work hard like an ox and eat like a lord.

This proverb emphasizes the value of hard work and self-sufficiency. It suggests that one should exert maximum effort in their labor (like a bullock/ox) so that they can eventually enjoy a luxurious and dignified life (like a lord or master) with the rewards of their toil.

Coming like a mountain, and melting away like dew.

This expression is used to describe a situation or problem that initially appeared to be massive, overwhelming, and insurmountable (like a mountain), but eventually resolved itself easily or vanished without much effort (like mist/dew melting away). It is often used to express relief after a major scare.

Said of a difficulty which appears great when distant but is easily overcome when grappled with.

I want grand-mother and I want food. Said by a child who did not wish to leave its grand-mother, but who had to do so to get its dinner. You cannot drink and whistle at the same time. (Danish.)

This proverb describes a situation where someone wants to have their cake and eat it too. It is used when a person tries to hold onto two mutually exclusive options or wants all the benefits of a situation without making any sacrifices or choices.

* Man kan ikke drikke og pibe paa eengang.