الغالي تمنه فيه

El ghali tamanu feeh

Translation: Precious things are worth their price.

Meaning: You get what you pay for. This saying, still very much in use, is used to entice people to shell out a little extra for something of a relatively durable nature. You cannot use it in reference to a movie ticket or a night out with friends, that would be too frivolous for such a weighty piece of wisdom. Use it to urge someone to pay more for a suit, a pair of glasses, or a car – things that would serve them repeatedly and give them long-term gratification.

Source: Egyptian Proverbs, (Al-Ahram Center for Translation and Publishing, 1986) by Ahmed Taymour Pasha,

Translated by: Nabil Shawkat