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Arabic · Arabic scriptProverb: Verified

«اِللِّي يْعَاشِرْ الْحَكِيمْ يِمُوتْ سَقِيمْ»

Meanings

Each meaning is reviewed on its own.

Meaning: Verified
English translation

Too much doctoring can leave a person worse off.

Literal wording

Whoever keeps company with the physician dies sick.

Meaning and lesson

The saying pictures constant involvement with a doctor as a path to lingering illness. Its force lies in the paradox that a pursuit intended to restore health may, when taken too far, end in the very condition it seeks to prevent.

More broadly, it rebukes lack of moderation. A useful practice does not remain harmless merely because its purpose is good; pressing it beyond reasonable limits can turn benefit into injury.

When it is used

Used hyperbolically to warn against going to extremes in treatment or another otherwise helpful practice. It stresses restraint rather than rejecting care and should not be understood as advice to forgo needed medical care.

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