«بَحِّرْ سَنَهْ وَلَا تْقَبِّلْ يُومْ»

The saying favors a longer, more manageable course over a shorter one marked by hardship. It judges a journey or task less by distance or duration than by the effort, discomfort, and strain it imposes.

Historically, its directional contrast reflects a traditional preference for Egypt’s northern rural lowlands over the southern interior, based on perceived travel hardship; it should not be taken as a general judgment about either region or its people.

Use it when advising someone to choose a longer but easier route, plan, or process rather than a seemingly quicker option likely to be exhausting or unpleasant. Although rooted in travel, it can also apply figuratively to decisions involving work or other burdensome tasks.