A guilty conscience needs no accuser.
Meaning: Wrongdoing torments the mind so intensely that external judgment becomes unnecessary for self-condemnation.
Origin: The Roman orator Quintilian quoted the saying that conscience is as good as a thousand witnesses. The English proverb means that the guilty betray themselves without anyone needing to accuse them.
More proverbs about Wisdom
- Hail brings frost in the tail. — Severe weather's worst effects linger after the initial storm passes, demanding continued…
- He knows not a hawk from a hand-saw. — Lacking discernment between predator and tool reveals ignorance of fundamental distinctio…
- One may as well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb. — Risk harsh punishment equally for major wrongs or minor ones, so choose the bolder course.
- Where we least think, there goeth the hare away. — Prey escape through negligence; danger strikes when vigilance wavers at supposed safe mom…
- Little dogs start the hare, but great ones catch it. — Small efforts initiate opportunities, yet substantial power and persistence are required…
- Sell not the hare's skin before you have caught him. — Count your gains only after securing them; premature celebration invites disappointment a…
From our tongue twisters
- Un beau ver vert dans un verre vert verra un ver vert. — Ver (worm), vert (green), and verre (glass) are near-homophones — distinguishing them at…
- Didon dîna, dit-on, du dos d'un dodu dindon dont le dodu dos dodine. — A 'd' / 'din' / 'dod' avalanche that seems designed to jam the tongue in third gear.
- Zehn zahme Ziegen ziehen zehn Zentner Zucker zum Zoo. — A sustained 'z' / 'ts' drill — every word starts with the same affricate.