The pot calling the kettle black
Meaning: Criticizing someone for a flaw you yourself possess.
Origin: Spanish proverb from Don Quixote (1605) by Cervantes.
Translations
- French: C'est l'hôpital qui se moque de la charité (literally: It's the hospital mocking charity)
- Spanish: Le dijo la sartén al cazo (literally: The pan said to the pot)
- Japanese: 目くそ鼻くそを笑う (Mekuso hanakuso wo warau) (literally: Eye gunk laughs at nose gunk)
More proverbs about Morality
- Give credit where credit is due — Acknowledge others' contributions fairly.
- Practice what you preach — Live according to the principles you advocate.
- Cleanliness is next to godliness — Being clean is a virtue akin to being pious.
- Pride comes before a fall — Arrogance often precedes failure.
- The wheels of justice turn slowly — Justice takes time but eventually arrives.
- The ends justify the means — A good outcome excuses questionable methods.
Loading the full interactive collection…