proverb · Legacy record
It is better for the sheep to have the wolf as an enemy than as a friend.
It is better for the sheep to have the wolf as an enemy than as a friend.
Historical period not yet established
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
A sheep better served by a wolf as enemy than friend contrasts obvious danger with misleading reassurance. The saying questions a friendly label over an unequal relationship.
What the words are saying
The animal scene is not a verified behaviour rule. A critical human reading does not make an open opponent safe or blame someone for trusting. A useful application evaluates conduct and power with room for support, rather than assuming every relationship must be divided into friend or enemy.
Everyday example
Someone assesses how they are treated instead of trusting a friendly label that conflicts with actual conduct.
When to use it
Use it critically to examine reassurance and unequal power.
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What it does not mean
No safety guaranteed by open hostility or fault assigned to a deceived person is established.
Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
Russia
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin.- Historical period
- Historical period not yet established
No sufficiently supported historical placement has been established. Import and download dates are not treated as composition dates. - Recorded source
- Contributor-provided wisdom reference (2014 AD)
Supplied reference B; unit 870; PDF page 77; collection label: Russia
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.
- Culture
- Russia