He would not lend his knife to the devil to stab himself.

Meaning: Even the self-interested refuse to enable their own destruction, showing that survival instinct transcends all other considerations.

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

More proverbs about Perseverance

• Little boats must keep the shore. — Small vessels risk capsizing in deep waters; the weak survive by avoiding dangerous expos…
• The longest day must have an end. — Even the most difficult or lengthy struggles will eventually conclude if you endure.
• Never leave a friend in the lurch. — Abandoning someone who depends on you damages trust and reveals your character's weakness…
• The master's eye does more work than his hands. — Vigilant oversight and attention accomplish more than physical labor alone.
• Medlars are never good till they be rotten. — Unpleasant external conditions sometimes precede inner ripeness; patience reveals hidden…
• Time and straw make medlars ripe. — Patience and neglect accomplish what effort cannot; some things require only waiting.

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