Literal translation
he who has dined well believes the others full
Meaning
a full belly thinks everyone else is fed
Explanation
This proverb denounces, in a concise form, the lack of empathy in someone who judges another's situation by their own: full after a good meal, they come to believe, through simple projection, that everyone shares their state of plenty, forgetting that others may still be hungry or lacking. The universal, immediately relatable image of the meal supports a broader critique of the blindness brought on by personal comfort, one that prevents seeing the need or suffering of others. The proverb belongs to a tradition of popular wisdom attentive to social inequality and to the limits of spontaneous generosity, warning against measuring others by one's own satisfaction. It is said in a register both moral and practical, to criticize the indifference of someone who, being well provided for, neglects to truly inquire about others' condition, without settling for assuming their contentment.