من أمنك لم تخونه ولو كنت خاين
Men ammenak lam tekhunu, walaw kont khayen
Translation: He who trusts you, do not betray, even if you are treacherous.
Meaning: This proverb, set in country dialect, is part of a genre of sayings about treachery, a major theme in the oral tradition of Arabia and North Africa. According to this proverb, one may be allowed to cheat people one doesn’t know, but not betray the trust of people who got close to offer friendship and trust. This saying doesn’t aim to ban perfidy across the board, but to introduce a bit of morality into the immoral practice.
Source: Egyptian Proverbs, (Al-Ahram Center for Translation and Publishing, 1986) by Ahmed Taymour Pasha,
Translated by: Nabil Shawkat
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