Give credit where credit is due
Meaning: Acknowledge others' contributions fairly.
Origin: An echo of Paul's letter to the Romans (13:7), which says to render honor to whom honor is due. The "credit" wording dates from the late 18th century; the American patriot Samuel Adams wrote in 1777 of giving "credit to whom credit is due."
Equivalents in French, Spanish, Japanese, and German
- French: Rendre à César ce qui est à César (literally: Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar)
- Spanish: Dar a cada uno lo suyo (literally: Give each one what is theirs)
- Japanese: 功は功、罪は罪 (Kō wa kō, tsumi wa tsumi) (literally: Merit is merit, crime is crime)
- German: Ehre, wem Ehre gebührt (literally: Honour to whom honour is due)
More proverbs about Morality
- Practice what you preach — Live according to the principles you advocate.
- Cleanliness is next to godliness — Being clean is a virtue akin to being pious.
- Pride comes before a fall — Arrogance often precedes failure.
- The wheels of justice turn slowly — Justice takes time but eventually arrives.
- The ends justify the means — A good outcome excuses questionable methods.
- Charity begins at home — Take care of your own family before helping others.
From our false friends
- Sensible — Actually means 'sensitive'. For sensible/level-headed, say raisonnable.
- Librairie — Actually means 'bookshop'. A library is une bibliothèque.
- Constipado — Actually means 'having a head cold'. Estoy constipado = I have a cold.