Live by the sword, die by the sword
Meaning: Violence begets violence; those who choose aggressive means should expect equally brutal consequences.
Origin: From the Gospel of Matthew (26:52). When Jesus is arrested in Gethsemane, one of his followers draws a sword and cuts off the ear of the high priest's servant; Jesus tells him to put it away, "for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword."
More proverbs about Communication
- No one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public — Mass audiences reward simplicity over substance, making mediocrity perpetually profitable.
- As you make your bed so you must lie on it. — Your choices about how you arrange your life will directly determine the comfort or disco…
- He who lies long in bed his estate feels it. — Laziness depletes wealth as surely as an idle body consumes resources without producing i…
- You would make me believe the moon is made of green cheese. — Absurd claims require absurd evidence; gullibility has limits even when persuasion is ski…
- The best lie is the worst. — A lie that succeeds too perfectly eventually collapses under its own elaborate contradict…
- Give a dog a bone in his mouth, and you may kick him and he can't bite. — A person preoccupied with satisfying their immediate desires loses the ability to resist…
From our idioms
- To cut the mustard — To meet the required standard; to succeed.
- To chew the fat — To chat idly and at length.
- By the skin of your teeth — By the narrowest possible margin.