People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones
Meaning: Don't criticize others if you have the same faults.
Origin: Chaucer already has the thought in Troilus and Criseyde (c. 1385): whoever has a head made of glass should beware of stones in a fight. George Herbert's Outlandish Proverbs (1640) moves the glass to the house — whoever lives in a house of glass must not throw stones at another. The warning is against accusing others of faults you share.
Equivalents in French, Spanish, Japanese, and German
- French: Il ne faut pas jeter des pierres quand on vit dans une maison de verre (literally: Don't throw stones when you live in a glass house)
- Spanish: El que tiene tejado de vidrio no tire piedras al del vecino (literally: He who has a glass roof should not throw stones at the neighbor's)
- Japanese: 自分のことを棚に上げて人を責めるな (Jibun no koto wo tana ni agete hito wo semeru na) (literally: Don't blame others while putting your own matters on the shelf)
- German: Wer im Glashaus sitzt, soll nicht mit Steinen werfen (literally: He who sits in a glass house should not throw stones)
More proverbs about Morality
- The road to hell is paved with good intentions — Good plans are worthless without follow-through.
- The truth shall set you free — Honesty and truth lead to liberation.
- To err is human, to forgive divine — Making mistakes is natural; forgiving them is noble.
- Live and let live — Be tolerant of others' choices and lifestyles.
- The pot calling the kettle black — Criticizing someone for a flaw you yourself possess.
- Give credit where credit is due — Acknowledge others' contributions fairly.
From our tongue twisters
- Khadak Singh ke khadakne se khadakti hain khidkiyan, khidkiyon ke khadakne se khadakte hain Khadak Singh. — A 'kh/kh/kh' recursive loop — each clause triggers the other, like a rattling chain react…
- Chandu ke chacha ne Chandu ki chachi ko chandi ki chamach se chatni chatayi. — A 'ch' symphony from start to finish — Hindi's palatal affricate in every single word.
- Şu çam sakızı çan sakızı olmuş, çan sakızı şan sakızı olmuş. — A 'ş/ç/şan/çan' duel — Turkish's two close sibilants at war with each other.