«لَاقِينِي وَلَا تْغَدِّينِي»

The saying holds that how a person is received matters more than what they are given. Here 'meet' means receiving someone with a warm, cheerful welcome. It does not reject food or hospitality; rather, a smiling welcome outranks a generous table offered with a scowl, which leaves the guest feeling unwanted.

It can serve as a gentle reproach to hosts or benefactors who give grudgingly. It can also express modest gratitude, signalling that the speaker asks nothing costly, only kindness and a pleasant face when they arrive.

Use it when someone values warmth over material generosity, for example when a guest prefers a friendly reception to a lavish meal given grudgingly, or when gently pointing out that a host's sour attitude spoiled what was offered.