A curious person entered the fire and said: "The firewood is damp." دخل فضولي النار فقال : الحطب رطب

دخل فضولي النار فقال : الحطب رطب
A curious person entered the fire and said: "The firewood is damp."
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المثل «دخل فضولي النار فقال: الحطب رطب» يُضرب لمن يتدخل فيما لا يعنيه، ثم يظل يتعلل أو يتفلسف حتى بعد أن يقع في الضرر. وفيه معنى الفضول الذي يجرّ صاحبه إلى الهلاك.
ومن أقرب المقابلات الإنجليزية: Curiosity killed the cat.
= «الفضول قتل القطة.»
وهذا أقرب مثل إنجليزي من حيث التحذير من الفضول وعواقبه.
Mind your own business.
= «اهتم بشؤونك ولا تتدخل فيما لا يعنيك.»
وهو أقرب إلى جانب التدخل في شؤون الآخرين.
He who meddles in other people's affairs gets burned.
= «من يتدخل في شؤون غيره يُحرق.»
وهي صياغة تفسيرية تجمع بين الفضول والنتيجة.
أما الجزء «فقال: الحطب رطب» فيضيف صورة ساخرة: دخل النار بسبب فضوله، ثم بدل أن يعترف بخطئه أخذ يبحث عن عذر.
لذلك يمكن ترجمة المثل كله معنويًا:
Curiosity got him into trouble, and then he made excuses for it.
وأقرب مثل إنجليزي مأثور: Curiosity killed the cat.
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The proverb "A curious person entered the fire and said, 'The wood is damp'" is used to describe someone who meddles in things that don't concern them, then continues to make excuses or philosophize even after causing harm. It illustrates the idea that curiosity can lead to one's downfall.
A similar English equivalent is:
"Curiosity killed the cat."
This is the closest English proverb in terms of warning against curiosity and its consequences.
"Mind your own business."
This is closer to the theme of meddling in other people's affairs.
"He who meddles in other people's affairs gets burned."
This is an explanatory formulation that combines curiosity with its outcome.
The phrase "and said, 'The wood is damp'" adds a satirical touch: He entered the fire because of his curiosity, and then instead of admitting his mistake, he started looking for an excuse.
Therefore, the whole proverb can be translated metaphorically as:
Curiosity got him into trouble, and then he made excuses for it.
A similar English proverb is: Curiosity killed the cat.