- English translation
He who takes a full share at a funeral must join fully in the mourning.
- Literal wording
Whoever eats with all five fingers will slap himself with all ten.
- Meaning and lesson
The saying criticizes someone who accepts the benefits of a communal occasion but tries to avoid the duties expected in return. Taking generously creates an obligation to contribute when the group calls on one to do so.
Its sharp funeral-mourning image contrasts eating with five fingers and ritual self-striking with both hands. It expresses reciprocity, not a literal instruction to take part in mourning, and should not be used lightly around bereavement.
- When it is used
Use it, often reproachfully, to say that someone who enjoys a substantial benefit should bear a corresponding share of the burden. Because its image invokes funeral mourning, avoid using it casually in situations involving bereavement.
Cite or copy proverb
How this record reached us: Editorially sourced.
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