Men strain at gnats, and swallow camels!
Meaning: Obsessing over trivial faults while tolerating serious wrongs reveals misplaced moral priorities and hypocrisy.
Origin: From Jesus' rebuke of the Pharisees in Matthew 23:24: "Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel." The devout strained their wine through cloth so as not to swallow an unclean insect, while overlooking far greater faults. It describes fussing over trifles while ignoring what really matters.
More proverbs about Wisdom
- Better go about than fall into the ditch. — Taking an indirect, longer route safely beats risking catastrophe through the shortest pa…
- Gold goes in at any gate, except Heaven's. — Wealth opens worldly doors but cannot purchase spiritual salvation or divine favor.
- The gown is hers who wears it, and the world is his who enjoys it. — Possession belongs to those who actively use something, not merely own it formally.
- While the grass grows the steed starves. — Delay in acting allows opportunities to slip away while waiting for ideal conditions that…
- Grass grows not upon the highway. — Constant traffic wears away growth; neglected paths flourish while heavily used routes re…
- There would be no great ones if there were no little. — Greatness requires a foundation of ordinary people and humble tasks to build upon and ele…
From our idioms
- pendaglio da forca — A person who deserves to be hanged; a worthless scoundrel.
- mi sa — I suppose, I guess, or I have the impression.
- nei panni di — In the position, role, or situation of someone else; in their shoes.