A hidden virtue is better than a wicked youth خبأة صدق خير من يفعة سوء

خبأة صدق خير من يفعة سوء

الخبأة، المرأة التي تطلع ثم تختبئ. ويقال: غلام يافع ويفعة وغلمان يفعة أيضاً في الجمع أي جارية خفرة خير من غلام سوء. يضرب للرجل يكون خامل الذكر فيقال لأن يكون كذا خير من أن يكون مشهوراً مرتفعاً في الشر.
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A hidden virtue is better than a wicked youth. The word "hidden" here refers to a woman who appears and then hides. It is also said that a young, modest boy is better than a wicked boy, and the plural is "young boys." This proverb is used to describe a man of obscure reputation, implying that it is better for him to be so than to be famous and elevated in wickedness.
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المثل العربي «خَبْأَةُ صِدْقٍ خيرٌ من يَفَعَةِ سُوء» يُضرب لمعنى أن الخمول مع الصلاح خير من الشهرة مع الفساد، أو أن قلة الذكر في الخير خير من علو الذكر في الشر.
ومن أقرب المقابلات الإنجليزية: “Better an honest nobody than a famous rogue.”
أي: خير أن تكون مغمورًا شريفًا من أن تكون مشهورًا فاسدًا.
وهو أقرب مقابل للمثل العربي.
“Better be unknown than infamous.”
أي: خير أن تكون مجهولًا من أن تكون سيئ السمعة.
“A good name is better than great riches.”
أي: السمعة الطيبة خير من الغنى.
وهو قريب في تفضيل الصلاح على المكاسب الدنيوية، وإن لم يركز على الخمول.
“Better obscure and honest than notorious and wicked.”
أي: خير أن تكون مغمورًا أمينًا من أن تكون مشهورًا بالشر.
“Better no fame than bad fame.”
أي: عدم الشهرة خير من الشهرة السيئة.
وأقرب مقابل للمثل العربي هو:
“Better be unknown than infamous.”
«خير أن تكون مجهولًا من أن تكون سيئ السمعة.»
أو بصيغة أكثر مطابقة لمعناه:
“Better an honest nobody than a famous rogue.”
«خير أن تكون مغمورًا شريفًا من أن تكون مشهورًا فاسدًا.»
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The Arabic proverb “A hidden good deed is better than a youthful wickedness” is used to illustrate that obscurity with integrity is better than fame with corruption, or that little recognition for good deeds is better than widespread notoriety for evil.
A close English equivalent is:
“Better an honest nobody than a famous rogue.”
Meaning: It is better to be an unknown but honorable person than to be a famous but corrupt one.
This is the closest equivalent to the Arabic proverb.
“Better be unknown than infamous.”
Meaning: It is better to be unknown than to have a bad reputation.
“A good name is better than great riches.”
Meaning: A good reputation is better than wealth.
This is similar in its preference for integrity over worldly gains, though it doesn't emphasize obscurity.
“Better obscure and honest than notorious and wicked.”
Meaning: It is better to be an unknown but honest person than to be famous for evil.
“Better no fame than bad fame.” In other words: Being unknown is better than being infamous.
The closest equivalent to this Arabic proverb is:
“Better to be unknown than infamous.”
“It is better to be unknown than to have a bad reputation.”
Or, in a more accurate way:
“Better an honest nobody than a famous rogue.”
“It is better to be an honest nobody than a corrupt celebrity.”