- English translation
Call on people in the morning, not at night.
- Literal wording
Come upon the folk in the morning, and do not come upon them in the evening.
- Meaning and lesson
The saying advises anyone planning to call on others to go early in the day rather than after dark. Its two verbs, built from the words for morning and evening, point here to the timing of a visit, so a daytime call finds the household awake and ready to receive guests.
The warning against evening visits rests on consideration for the hosts. Knocking at night can unsettle a family settled in for rest, and an unexpected caller may alarm them. The advice concerns when to call on people, not a general claim that mornings suit every undertaking.
- When it is used
Fits a moment when someone is planning to call on neighbors, relatives, or acquaintances, as gentle advice to go during daylight hours. It can also serve as mild criticism of a person who shows up unannounced after dark.
Cite or copy proverb
How this record reached us: Editorially sourced.
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