“We lick other people’s plates, and you come to lick ours!”
This witty proverb from Jabal Amel describes those who seek help from people who are barely able to manage their own needs. It humorously points out the irony of turning to the wrong people for assistance.
When asked about the origins of this saying, historian Kassem Hejeij recounted:
“This proverb originates from a story involving the late Sheikh Ali Mahdi Shamseddine, a respected Sharia judge in the Marjeyoun district. Sheikh Shamseddine was a scholar, poet, and a man of wisdom and humor.
One day, while returning home on his horse after a long day, he encountered a Romani man known for soliciting alms and offering fortune-telling services. Tired from his work, the judge wanted to avoid a lengthy exchange. Using his wit, he asked the man, ‘Do you have a cigarette, my friend?’ Shocked by the question from such a distinguished figure, the Romani man hesitated, looking at the judge in astonishment. Finally, he replied, ‘We lick other people’s plates, and you come to lick ours!'”
Hejeij added:
“This story showcases Sheikh Shamseddine’s sharp intellect and sense of humor. Following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire and the French occupation, France sought to appease minorities previously marginalized by the Turks. They offered administrative and judicial roles to local communities, including those in Jabal Amel. Despite religious decrees prohibiting collaboration with the French, many educated locals took on these roles to fill the administrative void. Notable figures from the region who held such positions include Mohammed Sohail as governor and Judge Mohammed Said Bazzi, both of whom served their communities honorably.”
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