Foul hands befoul all they touch.

Meaning: Moral corruption spreads through contact, tainting everything and everyone a person influences.

Origin: From 'A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases' (1870). Public domain.

More proverbs about Wisdom

• Four farthings and a thimble make a tailor's pocket jingle. — A tailor's meager earnings remind us that even small accumulations of modest wealth deser…
• The fox knows much, but more he that catcheth him. — The cunning schemer is ultimately undone by someone possessing even greater intelligence…
• A fox should not be of the jury at a goose trial. — Predators cannot impartially judge those they naturally prey upon; self-interest corrupts…
• When the fox preaches, beware of your geese. — Predators exploiting trust through false virtue pose the greatest danger to the vulnerabl…
• Though the fox runs the chicken hath wings. — Predator and prey possess different advantages; cunning alone cannot always overcome natu…
• Such as the tree is, such is the fruit. — People's actions and character naturally reflect their inner nature and values.

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