Premature ambition and immature complaints

402. Someone uttered an expression above his position, then Amīr al-mu’minīn, peace be upon him, said to him: You have started flying soon after growing feathers (shakīr) and commenced grumbling before attaining youth (saqb).

as-Sayyid ar-Raḍī says: Here “shakīr” means the first feathers that grow on a bird before it is strong enough to fly. And “saqb” means the young camel who does not grumble unless it becomes major.