If you play with a fool at home, he'll play with you in the market.
Meaning: Familiarity with foolish people emboldens them to embarrass you publicly.
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 Human Nature
- A man must plough with such oxen as he hath. — Work effectively with available resources rather than wasting energy wishing for better t…
- Poor folk are glad of pottage. — Those with little resources find contentment in simple sustenance rather than lamenting t…
- Poverty makes a man acquainted with strange bed-fellows. — Difficult circumstances force people to associate with those they'd normally avoid or rej…
- Pride goes before, and shame follows after. — Arrogance blinds you to consequences until failure humbles you publicly.
- A heavy purse makes a light heart. — Wealth alleviates worries and anxiety, allowing people to experience contentment and peac…
- Fools always come short of their reckoning. — Fools underestimate consequences and costs, discovering too late they lack resources for…
From our idioms
- across the board — Equally for everyone, for everything, or in all cases.
- actions speak louder than words — The things that people do (actions) are more important than the things they say (words).
- all kidding aside — Speaking seriously.