He that handles thorns shall prick his fingers.

Meaning: Careless engagement with dangerous things inevitably causes self-inflicted harm.

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

More proverbs about Wisdom

There are more threatened than struck. — More people fear danger than actually experience it; anxiety often exceeds real harm.
If you make not much of threepence you'll ne'er be worth a groat. — Neglecting small sums leads to poverty; careless management of modest earnings prevents a…
For what thou canst do thyself rely not on another. — Self-reliance in capable matters preserves your independence and avoids unnecessary oblig…
Simon Noland, clown, is a better style and title than Humphrey Hadland, gent. — A fool's honest name beats a gentleman's pretense; character matters more than titles.
Better three hours too soon than a minute too late. — Arriving early prevents missing opportunities, while lateness—no matter how brief—causes…
He that grasps at too much, holds fast nothing. — Excessive ambition scatters effort, leaving you empty-handed where focused pursuit secure…

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