«يَا فَرْعُونْ ميِنْ فَرْعَنَكْ؟ قَالَ: مَا لَقِيتْشْ حَدِّ يْرُدِّنِي»

Arrogance and abuse of power grow when nobody checks them early. Pharaoh, the oppressive ruler of the Moses story and a stock figure of tyranny rather than a stand-in for ancient Egyptians, is asked who made him "pharaoh-like," meaning tyrannical and overbearing. Blaming the silence around him, he replies that no one objected, so he kept going.

The saying puts part of the responsibility on those who watch excess without speaking up. A small overstep that meets no correction or advice at the outset invites a larger one, until the behavior becomes outrageous. Timely pushback or honest counsel is presented as the remedy that might have stopped the slide.

Said of someone whose bossiness, presumption, or wrongdoing has escalated because family, colleagues, or subordinates tolerated it from the beginning. It can criticize the offender, the bystanders, or both, and often serves as a reminder to object or advise early, before conduct hardens.