Explore Arabic traditional proverbsReviewed 2026-10-22
Meaning: Verified- English translation
What a family does not teach a person, life will eventually teach them.
- Literal wording
What the family does not bring up, the days and nights will bring up.
- Meaning and lesson
When relatives indulge someone so greatly that their character goes astray, the passage of time can force a correction that family guidance failed to provide.
The proverb casts life as a demanding instructor. Ease may permit bad habits to continue, but changing circumstances can compel a person to alter their conduct.
- When it is used
Used to say that a person spoiled by their family may eventually be corrected by life’s pressures and consequences. It may warn caregivers against excessive indulgence or comment on someone being compelled to improve their behavior.
Cite or copy proverb
How this record reached us: Editorially sourced.
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