Meaning
This proverb means that some people, ideas, or things are naturally incompatible and cannot work well together. Just as oil and water cannot blend, forcing incompatible elements together often leads to conflict, frustration, or failure.
Understanding the Idea
Recognize incompatibility; not everything or everyone can harmonize, and forcing it may cause problems.
A Beautiful and Relatable Moral Story
Riya and Sameer started a business partnership despite having completely different working styles. Riya was meticulous and cautious, while Sameer was impulsive and risk-taking. Conflicts arose quickly, and decisions were often contested. Eventually, they decided to end the partnership amicably and pursue separate ventures suited to their styles. They learned that some combinations, though promising in theory, are naturally incompatible.
Moral: Understand natural incompatibilities; forcing incompatible elements can create conflict and failure.
