If you see a lion baring its fangs, do not…
Quote
If you see a lion baring its fangs, do not imagine that it is smiling.
Arabic original
إذا رأيت نيوب الليث بارزة، فلا تظنن أن الليث يبتسم.
What it means
An apparently friendly expression may conceal a threat. The lion’s exposed teeth invite caution when interpreting signs: an outward expression does not necessarily reveal a kind intention.
The story behind this quote
The line belongs to Wa-harra qalbah. In nearby verses the poet describes an opponent misled by his laughter, before encountering a forceful response.
The lion’s teeth are visible in both the translation and the original, but the word smiling changes how the scene is read. The gap between those interpretations produces the warning. In the poem, the comparison lets the speaker recall the strength behind his laughter.
The source
واحر قلباه ممن قلبه شبم, من قصيدته في عتاب سيف الدولة, 957
The text appears in the indicated source. A traditional attribution remains distinct from proof of authorship: see the context.
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Among human failings, I have seen none like the shortcomings of those capable of perfection.
The noblest place in the world is the saddle of a swift horse, and the best companion is a book.
I am the one whose poetry even the blind have seen, and whose words have reached the deaf.
What use is sight to a person if light and darkness are the same to him?
Author
Al-Mutanabbi
Abu al-Tayyib al-Mutanabbi is often considered the greatest poet of the Arabic language. His verses, famous for their pride and concision, are still quoted as proverbs throughout the Arab world.
Quotes by Al-Mutanabbi