- English translation
Turn your back to the rain, but take shelter when the southern wind arrives.
- Literal wording
If the rain comes to you, give it your back; if the southern wind comes to you, hide from it.
- Meaning and lesson
The saying contrasts rain, treated as a discomfort manageable by turning one's back, with the marīsī, a southern wind traditionally portrayed as requiring complete shelter.
It advises judging hardships by severity: a minor nuisance may call for limited protection, while a perceived greater danger warrants withdrawal. Its unfavorable view of that wind reflects the saying's historical setting, not a general rule about weather.
- When it is used
Use it to counsel proportionate caution when two unwelcome situations are not equally risky: endure a manageable nuisance with modest precautions, but avoid what is believed to pose greater harm. The contrast reflects a traditional weather judgment rather than advice about all such winds.
Cite or copy proverb
How this record reached us: Editorially sourced.
Report an issue with this meaning: Turn your back to the rain, but take shelter when the southern wind arrives.