Provençal expression

au mai boustigas lou femié, au mai sènt

Wisdom

Literal translation

the more you stir the dung heap, the more it stinks

Meaning

the more you stir the muck, the more it stinks

Explanation

Better not to stir up a shameful matter: the more you stir the dung heap, the more it stinks.

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Other expressions on the same theme

au mai escalo la mounino, au mai mostro la cothe higher the monkey climbs, the more it shows its tail es pas la poulo que canto lou mai que fai li pu bèus iòuit's not the loudest hen that lays the finest eggs Tout fai ventre mai que i 'entreanything goes, as long as it fills the belly qu douno i paure, prèsto à Diéuhe who gives to the poor lends to God Mies vau pan à la paniero qu'un bèl ome à la carrierobread in the basket is worth more than a handsome man in the street un bènfa n'es jamai perdu, s'un ingrat noun l'a reçaupua good deed is never wasted, unless met with ingratitude