When I have thatched his house he would throw me down.
Meaning: Ingratitude punishes generosity: helping someone complete their security makes them bold enough to harm their benefactor.
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 Wisdom
- All are not thieves that dogs bark at. — Not everyone accused or suspected deserves condemnation; accusations alone don't prove gu…
- The horse thinks one thing, and he that rides him another. — Intentions diverge between those who control and those controlled; agreement cannot be as…
- He that sows nothing plants thistles. — Idleness naturally produces harmful consequences; neglecting to cultivate goodness invite…
- The thorn comes forth with his point forwards. — Wickedness announces itself boldly through its inherent nature rather than concealing har…
- He that handles thorns shall prick his fingers. — Careless engagement with dangerous things inevitably causes self-inflicted harm.
- There are more threatened than struck. — More people fear danger than actually experience it; anxiety often exceeds real harm.
From our compliments & insults
- Du bist ein Schatz — You're a sweetheart.
- 目に入れても痛くない (Me ni irete mo itakunai) — Said of someone you adore completely, often a child or grandchild.
- Bête comme ses pieds — Really not very bright.