«اِلزَّقْلِ بِالطُّوبْ وَلَا الْهُرُوبْ»

The saying prefers enduring harm to the shame of running away. Being pelted with thrown stones or other missiles hurts, yet the one under attack judges that pain more bearable than the dishonor that flight would bring.

It sets a standard of steadfastness: hold your ground and accept the blows instead of escaping. Dignity is ranked above bodily safety, so retreat is treated as the worse outcome even when staying is costly.

Said when someone under attack or in a painful situation is tempted to escape and the speaker urges them to stand firm, or when declaring one's own resolve to endure blows rather than retreat in disgrace. It concerns enduring an attack, never carrying one out.