Suī yǒu qīn fù, ān zhī bù wéi hǔ; suī yǒu qīn xiōng, ān zhī bù wéi láng？

雖有親父, 安知不為虎; 雖有親兄, 安知不為狼？

Lit Though [he] is [your] father, how [do you] know [he is] not as [fierce as a] tiger; though [he] is [your] brother, how [do you] know [he is] not as [vicious as a] wolf?

Fig One cannot truly know anyone, even one's closest relatives.

Note [See also hǎi kū zhōng jiàn and huà lóng, huà hǔ above and zhī rén, zhī miàn below.]

Topics KNOWING MINDS RELATIVES TRUST TRUTH