A fault once denied is twice committed.
Meaning: Refusing to acknowledge wrongdoing compounds the original error by adding dishonesty.
Origin: Recorded in A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, an undated collection published in London by Whittaker & Co. around 1880 and credited to Thomas Preston. Its earlier history hasn't been traced.
Equivalents in French, Spanish, and Japanese
- French: Une faute niée est deux fois commise (literally: A fault denied is twice committed)
- Spanish: Pecado confesado, medio perdonado (literally: A sin confessed is half forgiven)
- Japanese: 過ちて改めざる、是を過ちと謂う (Ayamachite aratamezaru, kore o ayamachi to iu) (literally: To err and not correct it — that is what is called an error)
More proverbs about Wisdom
- Every one's faults are not written on their foreheads. — We cannot judge people's character by appearances; hidden flaws require deeper knowledge…
- The faulty stands on his guard. — One conscious of personal weakness remains vigilant against exploitation or exposure.
- A feast is not made of mushrooms only. — Variety and balance are essential; no single element, however good, sustains a complete w…
- Merry is the feast-making until we come to the reckoning. — Pleasure derived from excess loses its sweetness when consequences and debts demand payme…
- Feather by feather the goose is plucked. — Small incremental losses, ignored individually, accumulate into significant depletion ove…
- February makes a bridge, and March breaks it. — Winter's deceptive mild spells in February create false hope before March's renewed cold…
From our compliments & insults
- Sei un tesoro — You're a darling — precious to have around.
- Du bist ein Schatz — You're a sweetheart.
- 目に入れても痛くない (Me ni irete mo itakunai) — Said of someone you adore completely, often a child or grandchild.