Не буди лихо, пока оно тихо
(ne budí líkho, poká onó tíkho).
Literally:
don’t wake Likho* up while it’s quiet.
Likho is an embodiment of evil Dólya (Доля) - Nedólya - in eastern Slavic mythology. Dolya is an embodiment of happiness and good luck. Thus, Likho represents misfortune and it is depicted as a one-eyed creature: a giant (cf.: Cyclops) or an old woman.
English equivalents:
-
don’t trouble trouble until trouble troubles you;
-
let sleeping dogs lie.
