Report on things observed not heard.
Report on things observed not heard.
Meaning in plain English
Reporting what was observed rather than merely heard values direct evidence and clarity about a source. The saying asks a speaker not to pass on an unexamined account as their own observation.
Example
Someone labels an account as secondhand and identifies what they actually observed.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
A responsible reading does not make all secondhand information false or direct perception infallible. A useful application distinguishes observation, inference and another person’s report while checking relevance and support. The sentence is not a legal evidence rule or a reason to silence testimony one did not personally witness.
When to use it
Use it to clarify evidential basis without dismissing every reported experience.
Keep in mind
No automatic truth of observation, falsity of hearsay or legal admissibility rule is established.
Edsverb editorial interpretation · agent reviewed · 2026-10-05. This explains the saying; it does not establish its historical origin.
- Country attributed by the collection
Egypt · source-attributed; earliest origin unverified
- Source
- Contributor-provided wisdom reference
Supplied reference B; unit 591; PDF page 55; collection label: Egypt
Reuse and collection notes ↗ - Attribution confidence
- traditional · supplied collection
Preserved as printed; independently unverified. - Historical coordinate
- Undated
No reliable date supplied by the collection. - Rights & edition
- Contributor-confirmed reuse permission
Translations and rights may differ elsewhere.
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