«اِمْشِي دُغْرِي يِحْتَارْ عَدُوَّكْ فِيكْ»

Here, “walking straight” extends beyond physical movement to a steady, proper way of managing one’s affairs. Such conduct is portrayed as disorienting to a hostile person, who cannot readily make sense of the person before them.

The proverb treats rectitude as a form of self-command with consequences in conflict. Rather than answering enmity in kind, it recommends remaining straightforward, so that an adversary is left uncertain how to proceed.

Say this when advising someone to remain principled while dealing with a hostile rival. It frames straightforward conduct as the wiser response to antagonism than behavior that invites suspicion.