កាត់ទឹកមិនដាច់ កាត់សាច់វាឈឺ
“Cutting water leaves no scar, but cutting flesh causes real pain.”
Even when parents declare they have cut a wayward child off, the bond of love cannot truly be severed like water — any attempt to sever it only brings the parents lasting heartache.
— Traditional Khmer Wisdom, Cambodia
Source: Traditional Khmer proverb (សុភាសិត), public-domain oral tradition
More Proverbs from Cambodia
When the water rises, the fish eat the ants; when the water recedes, the ants eat the fish.
Fortunes turn. Those who are powerful today may be powerless tomorrow, so never be cruel in strength.
Keep company with the wise and gain wisdom; keep company with fools and gain sorrow.
The company you keep shapes what you become.
A falling leaf lands not far from its trunk.
Children carry the nature of their family and roots.
One mountain does not hold two tigers.
Only one leader or dominant force can rule a single place at a time.
You may know a great deal yourself, yet still respect what others know.
Humility means recognizing that others hold knowledge you may lack, however capable you are.
Sitting in the winnowing basket, still he lifts himself up.
A mocking image of self-praise — boasting about oneself while in a lowly position achieves nothing.