He stands in his own light.
Meaning: Blocking one's own path to success through poor positioning, stubbornness, or self-defeating behavior.
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.
More proverbs about Wisdom
- Every light is not the sun. — Not all sources of guidance or authority deserve equal trust or reverence.
- Light gains make a heavy purse. — Small, consistent profits accumulate into substantial wealth over time through steady, di…
- Lips however rosy must be fed. — Beautiful appearances require material sustenance to survive; aesthetic appeal alone cann…
- Little birds may peck a dead lion. — Even the weakest creatures gain power when facing something already defeated or in declin…
- One may see day at a little hole. — Even minimal openings to truth or knowledge suffice; darkness yields to the smallest ligh…
- Little minds, like weak liquors, are soon soured. — Petty intellects curdle quickly under pressure, while robust minds ferment into something…
From our compliments & insults
- Du hast ein Händchen dafür — You have a real knack — a natural gift that makes difficult things look easy.
- Du hast Köpfchen — You're sharp and clever — you use your brain well.
- Du bist klasse — You're brilliant — excellent, impressive, top-notch.