If you return water with water, use a more squeaky water. : إن ترد الماء بماء أكيس

إن ترد الماء بماء أكيس
If you return water with water, use a more squeaky water.
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«إِنْ تَرِدِ الماءَ بِماءٍ أَكْيَسُ» يدعو إلى الأخذ بالحزم والاحتياط، وعدم التفريط فيما تملكه اعتمادًا على أمر لم يتحقق بعد؛ فمن يحمل ماءً معه عند ورود الماء يكون أحزم ممن يتخلص من مائه ثقةً بأنه سيجد الماء.
أقرب مقابل إنجليزي له هو:
“Better safe than sorry.”
أي: الاحتياط خير من الندم.
لكن هناك أمثال إنجليزية أخرى أقرب إلى تفاصيل المعنى:
“Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.” — أمِلْ في الأفضل، لكن استعدّ للأسوأ.
“Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.” — لا تعتمد على أمر قبل أن يتحقق.
“Keep something in reserve.” — احتفظ بشيء احتياطيًا تحسبًا للحاجة إليه.
وأفضل مقابل من حيث المعنى الكامل هو:
“Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.”
لأنه يجمع بين الثقة بإمكان العثور على الماء والاستعداد لاحتمال عدم العثور عليه، بينما يعبّر المثل العربي بصورة أدق عن الحزم في الاحتفاظ بما لديك حتى تتأكد من وجود البديل.
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After this explanation, it becomes clear that the proverb "If you bring water to the well, it's wiser to bring water" encourages prudence and caution, and advises against squandering one's resources based on something that hasn't yet materialized. Someone who brings water with them when they arrive is wiser than someone who throws away their water, trusting that they will find water later.
The closest English equivalent is:
"Better safe than sorry."
That is, precaution is better than regret.
However, there are other English proverbs that more closely capture the meaning:
"Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst."
"Don't count your chickens before they hatch."
"Keep something in reserve."
The best equivalent in terms of complete meaning is:
"Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst."
Because it combines confidence in the possibility of finding water with preparedness for the possibility of not finding it, while the Arabic proverb more accurately expresses the firmness in keeping what you have until you are sure that there is an alternative.