ProverbCommunication
English origin1689
English origin1689Do what I say, not what I do
Meaning: Hypocrisy acknowledged: the speaker recognizes their own failures but knows the correct path anyway.
Origin: The idea echoes Jesus' words about the Pharisees in Matthew 23:3 — do what they tell you, but not what they do. John Selden's Table-Talk, published in 1689, says that preachers say, "Do as I say, not as I do."
Explore another collection: Tongue Twisters
Tricky phrases to practice out loud, from languages around the world.
- 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.
- Wenn Fliegen hinter Fliegen fliegen, fliegen Fliegen Fliegen nach. Fliegen means 'flies' (insects), 'to fly', and 'flying' — all at once, relentlessly.
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