Explore Arabic traditional proverbsReviewed 2026-09-27
Meaning: Verified- English translation
Understand harmful practices without taking part in them.
- Literal wording
Learn sorcery, but do nothing with it.
- Meaning and lesson
Knowing how harm is done can help a person recognize and guard against it; that knowledge is no reason to harm others.
- When it is used
Used to advise learning enough about a danger to protect oneself while refusing to use that knowledge against anyone.
- Register
- colloquial
Cite or copy proverb
How this record reached us: Editorially sourced.
Report an issue with this meaning: Understand harmful practices without taking part in them.