A little good, and I disgraced myself. خير قليل وفضحت نفسي

خير قليل وفضحت نفسي

ويروى: نفع قليل. قالوا: إن أول من قال ذلك فاقرة، أمراع مرة الأسدي، وكانت من أجمل النساء في زمانها. وإن زوجها غاب عنها أعواماً فهويت عبداً لها حامياً، كان يرعى ماشيتها. فلما همت به أقبلت على نفسها فقالت: يا نفس، لا خير في الشرة فإنها تفضح الحرة، وتحدث العرة. ثم أعرضت عنه حيناً، ثم همت به فقالت: يا نفس، موتة مريحة خير من الفضيحة وركوب القبيحة، وإياك والعار، ولبوس الشنار، وسوء الشعار، ولؤم الدثار. ثم همت به وقالت: إن كانت مرة واحدة فقد تصلح الفاسدة، وتكرم العائدة. ثم جسرت على أمرها فقالت للعبد: احضر مبيتي الليلة. فأتاها فواقعها، وكان زوجها عائفاً مارداً، وكان قد غاب دهراً ثم أقبل آتياً، فبينا هو يطعم إذ نعب غراب فأخبره أن امرأته لم تفجر قط ولا تفجر إلا تلك الليلة. فركب مرة فرسه وسار مسرعاً رجاء أن هو أحسها أمنها أبداً، فانتهى إليها، وقد قام العبد عنها وقد ندمت وهي تقول: خير قليل وفضحت نفسي. فسمعها مرة، فدخل عليها وهو يرعد لما به من الغيظ فقالت له: ما يرعدك? قال مرة ليعلم أنه قد علم: خير قليل وفضحت نفسي. فشهقت شهقة وماتت فقال مرة:
لحا الله رب الناس فاقر ميتة
وأهون بها مفقوده حين تفقد
لعمرك ما تعتادني منك لوعة
ولا أنا من وجد عليك مسهد
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A little good, and I disgraced myself.
It is also said: A little benefit. They said: The first to say this was Faqirah, Amra' Murrah al-Asadi, who was one of the most beautiful women of her time. Her husband had been away for years, and she became infatuated with a slave of hers who tended her livestock. When she was tempted by him, she turned to herself and said: "O soul, there is no good in lust, for it disgraces the free woman and brings shame." Then she turned away from him for a while, then was tempted by him again and said: "O soul, a peaceful death is better than disgrace and committing an ugly act. Beware of shame, of wearing disgrace, of bad character, and of a base nature." Then she was tempted by him again and said: "If it is only once, then the corrupt may be rectified, and the one who returns may be honored." Then she mustered her courage and said to the slave: "Be present at my bedside tonight." So he came to her and had intercourse with her. Her husband was a rebellious and disobedient man who had been away for a long time and then returned. While he was eating, a raven cawed and told him that his wife had never committed adultery before, nor would she ever do so except that night. So he mounted his horse and rode swiftly, hoping that if he sensed her, he would be safe forever. He arrived to find the slave had risen from her, and she was filled with remorse, saying, "A little good, and I have disgraced myself." He heard her and entered, trembling with rage. She asked him, "Why are you trembling?" He replied, "So that he would know that I knew: 'A little good, and I have disgraced myself.'" She gasped and died. Then he said, "May God curse the Lord of mankind! How wretched a death is, and how easy it is to lose a loved one when she is gone! By your life, I have never known you to cause me grief, nor am I sleepless with longing for you." .
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
المثل العربي «خير قليل وفضحت نفسي» يُضرب لمن يجني منفعة أو لذة يسيرة مقابل خسارة عظيمة، ولا سيما خسارة الشرف أو السمعة. فالمعنى: لا تستحق المكاسب الصغيرة أن تُشترى بفضيحة أو عار دائم.
ولا يوجد في الإنجليزية مثل مطابق تمامًا، لكن توجد أمثال وتعبيرات قريبة في المعنى: The game isn't worth the candle. ✅ أفضل مقابل المعنى: المكسب لا يستحق ما يُدفع من ثمن أو مخاطرة.
يقابل فكرة أن المنفعة القليلة لا تستحق العاقبة الكبيرة.
The juice isn't worth the squeeze. تعبير حديث شائع.
المعنى: العائد لا يستحق الجهد أو الثمن أو المخاطرة.
A moment of pleasure may cost a lifetime of regret. لحظة من اللذة قد تكلف عمرًا من الندم.
ليس مثلًا تقليديًا، لكنه يطابق قصة المثل ومعناه.
One false step may ruin your reputation. زلة واحدة قد تدمر سمعتك.
يركز على ضياع السمعة بسبب خطأ واحد.
Don't sell your honor for a moment's pleasure. لا تبع شرفك من أجل لذة عابرة.
ترجمة معنوية، وليست مثلًا إنجليزيًا متداولًا.
أفضل مقابل في الثقافة الإنجليزية:
The game isn't worth the candle.
فهو يُستعمل عندما تكون الفائدة ضئيلة مقارنة بالخسارة أو المخاطرة، وهو أقرب ما يؤدي معنى «خير قليل وفضحت نفسي»، وإن كان المثل العربي يركز بصورة أوضح على التضحية بالشرف أو السمعة مقابل منفعة يسيرة، وهو جانب لا يرد صراحة في المثل الإنجليزي
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Arabic proverb "A little good and I disgraced myself" is used to describe someone who gains a small benefit or pleasure at the cost of a great loss, especially a loss of honor or reputation. The meaning is: small gains are not worth buying with scandal or lasting shame.
While there isn't an exact equivalent in English, there are proverbs and expressions with similar meanings:
"The game isn't worth the candle." ✅ Best price
Meaning: The gain isn't worth the price paid or the risk taken.
This contrasts with the idea that a small benefit isn't worth the big consequences.
"The juice isn't worth the squeeze."
A common modern expression.
Meaning: The return isn't worth the effort, price, or risk.
"A moment of pleasure may cost a lifetime of regret."
Not a traditional proverb, but it fits the story and meaning of the proverb.
"One false step may ruin your reputation."
One mistake can ruin your reputation.
This emphasizes the loss of reputation due to a single error. Don't sell your honor for a moment's pleasure.
Don't sell your honor for a fleeting pleasure.
This is a figurative translation, not a common English proverb.
A better equivalent in English culture is:
The game isn't worth the candle.
It is used when the benefit is minimal compared to the loss or risk, and it is closest to the meaning of "a little good and I've disgraced myself," although the Arabic proverb focuses more clearly on sacrificing honor or reputation for a small benefit, an aspect not explicitly mentioned in the English proverb.

More mistaken than a butterfly. أَخْطَأُ مِنْ فَرَاشَةٍ.

أَخْطَأُ مِنْ فَرَاشَةٍ.
لأنها تُلْقِي نفسَها على النار. قلت: وأخطأ في المثلين من خَطِئ، لا من أخْطَأ، وهما لغتان، أنشد أبو عبيدة: يا لَهْفَ هِنْدٍ إذ خَطِئْنَ كَاهِلا ... أي أخطأن.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
More mistaken than a butterfly.
Because it throws itself into the fire. I said: And the word in both proverbs is derived from the root خَطِئ (to err), not from the root أَخْطَأ (to make a mistake), and these are two different forms. Abu Ubaidah recited: Oh, the sorrow of Hind when they erred against Kahil... meaning, they made a mistake.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
المثل «أخطأ من فراشة» يُضرب لمن يندفع إلى ما فيه هلاكه أو يكرر الخطأ بسذاجة، تشبيهًا بالفراشة التي تنجذب إلى الضوء فتُلقي نفسها في النار.
ومن أقرب المقابلات الإنجليزية  :   Like a moth to a flame.
كالعثة إلى اللهب.
وهو أشهر وأقرب مقابل، ويُقال لمن ينجذب إلى ما يضره أو يهلكه.
To rush headlong into danger.
يندفع إلى الخطر بتهور.
Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
يقتحم الحمقى ما يتحاشاه العقلاء.
(إذا كان المقصود التهور وسوء التقدير).
Running into the fire.
يركض إلى النار بنفسه.
فأقرب مقابل للمثل العربي من حيث الصورة والمعنى هو:
Like a moth to a flame.
لأن كلا المثلين يصور مخلوقًا ينجذب إلى سبب هلاكه بغير بصيرة.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The proverb "Like a moth to a flame" is used to describe someone who rushes headlong into destruction or naively repeats a mistake, likening it to a moth drawn to a flame.
A similar English equivalent is:
"Like a moth to a flame."
This is the most common and closest equivalent, and it's said of someone attracted to something harmful or destructive.
"To rush headlong into danger."
"Fools rush in where angels fear to tread."
(If the intended meaning is recklessness and poor judgment.)
"Running into the fire."
The closest equivalent to the Arabic proverb, in terms of both imagery and meaning, is:
"Like a moth to a flame."
Because both proverbs depict a creature drawn to its own destruction without foresight. 

 

-------------------------------------

أَخْطَأُ مِنْ ذُبَابٍ.

لأنه يُلْقِي نفسَه في الشيء الحار، أو الشيء يلزق به فلا يمكنه التخلص منه.

 

Mistakes like arrows that pierce the target. خواطئاً كأنه نواقر

"Earths that pierce the target" is a proverb used to describe a man who misses, but whose mistake is closer to the truth than that of others. The word "mistakes" is in the accusative case, implying that he shot mistakes.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This can be expressed in several English proverbs or expressions, depending on the intended meaning. The closest example is:

Even his mistakes hit the mark.

Or:

He misses with uncanny accuracy.

(Meaning: He makes mistakes, but his errors are very close to the mark.)

For a more literal meaning:

A lucky shot is still a shot.

However, this last one emphasizes luck more than skill.

The Arabic proverb "Khawati'an ka'annahu nawaqir" means that a man may make an apparent mistake, but the consequences of his error are more accurate than others', as if his arrows—though seemingly off—are perfectly aimed and hit the mark.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

النواقر، السهام النوافذ في الغرض. يضرب للرجل يخطئ فيكون خطؤه أقرب إلى الصواب من صواب غيره. ونصب خواطئاً على تقدير رمى خواطئ.

 

إن الموصين بنو سهوان ---- Those who make the will are forgetful

 This is a proverb that has caused much confusion in its interpretation, and the correct understanding is what I have established after recounting their various opinions. Some said: "Only those who are forgetful and negligent need a will, but you do not need one because you are not forgetful." Others said that by "the sons of forgetfulness," he meant all people because everyone is forgetful. The more accurate interpretation is that those who make a will are overcome by forgetfulness, as if it were their very nature.

This proverb is used for someone who forgets to seek something they were commanded to do. "Sahwan" means forgetfulness, and it can also be an adjective, meaning "the sons of a forgetful man," referring to Adam, peace be upon him, when he was entrusted with a task but forgot. It is said, "a forgetful man," meaning that those who make wills are not infallible because they are the sons of Adam, peace be upon him

ِAi said

"To err is human."
➜ Making mistakes (and forgetting) is human nature.
"Humans are forgetful by nature." 

(Direct expression)
➜ Humans are forgetful by nature.
"Practice what you preach."
➜ Said of someone who gives an order but doesn't follow it (similar in meaning to advise and forget).
"Easier said than done."
➜ It's easier to advise or give advice, but putting it into practice is harder (partially related in meaning)..

 هذا مثل تخبط في تفسيره كثير من الناس والصواب ما أثبته بعد أن أحكي ما قالوا. قال بعضهم: إنما يحتاج إلى الوصية من يسهو ويغفل فأما أنت فغير محتاج إليها لأنك لا تسهو وقال بعضهم يريد بقوله بنو سهوان جميع الناس لأن كلهم يسهو والأصوب في معناه أن يقال إن الذين يوصون بالشيء يستولي عليهم. السهو حتى كأنه موكل بهم.
يضرب لمن يسهو عن طلب شيء أمر به. والسهوان السهو ويجوز أن يكون صفة أي بنو رجل سهوان وهو آدم عليه السلام حين عهد إليه فسها ونسي يقال رجل سهوان وساه أي إن الذين يوصون لا بدع أن يسهوا لأنهم بنو آدم عليه السلام.