يا بخت من بكانى و بكى الناس على و يا ويل من ضحكنى و ضحك الناس على 

 

Ya bakht men bakkani we bakka el nas alayya we ya weil men dahhakni we dahhak el nas alayya

 

Translation: Better somone who makes me cry and makes people cry for me than someone who makes me laugh and makes people laugh at me.

 

Meaning: A taste of wisdom in this exceptionally long proverb. It is a warning against deceit. It is better to be with people who would tell it to you straight, and make you sad, than with people who would lie to you, and thus get you in trouble and make a joke out of you. It is better to cry today and get your act together, than laugh your way into further trouble.  

 

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

Translated by: Nabil Shawkat