«تِعَاتِبِ الدِّنِي تِكْبَرْ نَفْسُهْ»

The saying warns that criticism does not always produce shame or reform. It portrays a person in disparaging terms as someone whose reproach may instead feed pride and make them act still more arrogantly.

It advises restraint in choosing whom to confront. The point is not that every flawed person is beyond correction, but that admonition can be counterproductive when received as a challenge rather than guidance.

Use it when advising someone not to waste energy scolding a person likely to answer criticism with swagger, defiance, or inflated self-regard. When referring to a real person, avoid repeating its demeaning characterization. It can explain why a direct rebuke has worsened a difficult interaction.