“Being too shy can lead to poverty” (Palestinian–Jordanian dialect) There was a girl named Noor who was very shy. If someone took advantage of her, she stayed quiet. If someone cut in front of her in line, she was too shy to say anything. Even at work, she would take on more than she could handle, trying to please everyone, yet nobody gave her the credit she deserved. One time, she completed an entire project at her company, but her coworker took all the credit for its success. Everyone applauded the other girl, while Noor sat there silently, upset and keeping her feelings to herself. Her friend said to her: “Why do you always stay quiet? Are you trying to drive me crazy? Why don’t you speak up? The work was yours!” Noor replied: “I’m too shy…” Some time later, salary raises were announced. The manager chose an employee who had less experience and worked less than Noor. But that employee knew how to speak up and ask for what she deserved. That day, Noor went home crying. Her mother sat beside her and said: “My daughter, modesty and good manners are beautiful qualities. But when they go too far, they can hurt the person who has them. Being overly shy can lead to poverty.” From that day on, Noor began learning how to speak up for herself. She learned to object when something was wrong, to say yes and no when she meant it, and to ask for her rights with confidence and without fear. The proverb “Being too shy can lead to poverty” does not criticize politeness or modesty. Rather, it means that excessive shyness can prevent a person from defending their rights, asking for opportunities, or speaking up when necessary, causing them to lose out on things they deserve.