«كُتْرِ النَّخْسْ يِعَلِّمِ الْحِمِيرِ الرَّفْسْ»

The saying warns that relentless, harsh pressure to make someone act tends to backfire. Instead of producing obedience or effort, constant goading spoils the temper of the one being driven and breeds resistance, so the pusher ends up with the reverse of the result they wanted.

It places the blame for the rebellion partly on the person applying force. A donkey that kicks has been taught to do so by excessive jabbing; likewise, people who turn stubborn, sullen, or openly defiant may be reacting to mistreatment, nagging, or overbearing control rather than acting out of innate bad character.

Suitable for commenting on parents, supervisors, or anyone who nags, scolds, or pressures relentlessly and then faces defiance. Best used as a wry warning to the one doing the pushing; because it likens the pushed person to a donkey, aiming it at someone present can sound insulting.