వినను కనను రెండేసి యిచ్చి, అనను ఒకటే యిచ్చినాడు దేవుడు
vinanu kananu rendesi yichchi, ananu okate yichchinadu devudu
God gave two each to hear and to see, but gave only one to speak.
This proverb emphasizes the importance of listening and observing more than speaking. Since we are physically equipped with two ears and two eyes but only one mouth, it implies that a wise person should be twice as observant and attentive as they are talkative. It is used to advise someone to be thoughtful and cautious with their words.
Related Phrases
ఏనుగును ఇచ్చి అంకుశం దాచినట్లు
enugunu ichchi ankusham dachinatlu
Giving away an elephant but hiding its goad.
This proverb describes a situation where someone performs a major act of generosity or makes a massive investment but gets stingy or hesitant over a trivial, minor detail required to make it functional. It is used when someone completes a huge task but stops short of finishing the small final touch.
అప్పటి మాటలకు దుప్పటి యిచ్చినానుగాని, కలకాలము కప్పుకో నిచ్చినానా?
appati matalaku duppati yichchinanugani, kalakalamu kappuko nichchinana?
I presented you with the robe in return for the compliments you then paid me, but did I intend you to wear it for ever ? ( Bee. No. 309. ) A liberal gift regretted and withdrawn. Give a thing and take again, And you shall ride in hell's wain.
This expression refers to someone who justifies taking back a favor or a gift because the original circumstances or temporary reasons for giving it have changed. It is often used to describe people who are fickle or who set hidden time limits on their generosity.
పితికే బర్రెను ఇచ్చి పొడిచే దున్నను తెచ్చినట్టు.
pitike barrenu ichchi podiche dunnanu techchinattu.
He bartered a milch she buffalo for a goring he buffalo.
This proverb describes a foolish exchange or a bad bargain. It refers to a situation where someone gives away something useful and productive (the milking buffalo) only to replace it with something useless and harmful (the aggressive bull). It is used when a person makes a decision that results in a significant loss of utility and an increase in trouble.
దొరలు ఇచ్చిన పాలుకన్నా ధరణి ఇచ్చిన పాలు మేలు.
doralu ichchina palukanna dharani ichchina palu melu.
The share given by the earth is better than that given by the government. Free lands are better when fertile, than shares of grain allotted by government.
This proverb emphasizes self-reliance and the bounty of nature over patronage from the powerful. It suggests that what one earns through honest labor on their own land is superior and more sustainable than gifts or favors received from those in power, which often come with conditions or strings attached.
పైసా ఇచ్చి పాపం కొనుక్కున్నట్లు
paisa ichchi papam konukkunnatlu
Like paying money to buy a sin
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone spends their own money or resources only to end up with unnecessary trouble, misfortune, or a bad reputation. It highlights the irony of paying for something that causes harm to oneself.
ఇంటివాణ్ని లేపి దొంగచేతికి కట్టె ఇచ్చినట్టు.
intivanni lepi dongachetiki katte ichchinattu.
Like waking the master, and giving the thief a stick. To hold with the hare, and hunt with the hounds.
This proverb describes a person who pretends to help but actually creates a dangerous situation or aids the enemy. It is used to refer to someone's double-dealing or treacherous behavior where they appear to alert the victim while simultaneously empowering the perpetrator.
ఎవరు ఇచ్చినది ఈ మాన్యము అంటే, నేనే ఇచ్చుకున్నాను అన్నాడట.
evaru ichchinadi i manyamu ante, nene ichchukunnanu annadata.
When asked " Who gave you the freehold?" he said " I gave it to myself." Said of one who helps himself without regard to the law of meum and tuum.
This proverb is used to describe a person who lacks legitimate authority or external validation and instead relies on self-proclamations or self-awarded honors. It mocks those who boast about achievements or titles they have unilaterally claimed without any basis in truth or merit.
కండ్లు చెరిపిన దేవుడు మతి యిచ్చినట్టు
kandlu cheripina devudu mati yichchinattu
The God who destroyed the eyes, gave understanding. When God deprives a man of sight, He increases his intellectual powers.
This expression is used when someone suffers a physical or material loss but gains intelligence, maturity, or common sense in return. It refers to a situation where a disadvantage is compensated by a different, often mental or spiritual, advantage.
చేనూ కొడవలీ నీ చేత ఇచ్చాను.
chenu kodavali ni cheta ichchanu.
I have given the field and the sickle into your hands. To hand anything over entirely to another. To give another full powers.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone has been given complete authority, resources, and responsibility to complete a task. It implies that the person has everything they need (the field to work on and the tool to work with) and the outcome now depends entirely on their effort and initiative.
శింగన్నా శింగన్నా అద్దంకి పోయి వచ్చినావా అంటే, పోనూ పోయినాను రానూ వచ్చినానన్నాడట
shinganna shinganna addanki poyi vachchinava ante, ponu poyinanu ranu vachchinanannadata
"Śinganna, Śinganna, have you been to Addanki?" they asked. "I have been and come back" he replied. Śinganna was a simpleton who having heard that he was to be sent on an errand to Addanki, went off in the night without having received his message.
This expression is used to describe someone who gives a redundant, obvious, or meaningless answer to a simple question. It satirizes people who state the obvious as if they are providing significant information, or those who perform a task without achieving any real purpose or results.