Etymology Journal · D
Don't throw stones in glass houses
Meaning
- A warning not to criticize others for faults that you also possess. It implies that if you attack others, your own hypocrisy will be exposed and your reputation shattered.
Didactic, cautionary
Used in a sentence
- You should not mock his messy room when yours is just as bad; don't throw stones in glass houses.
- My sister keeps talking about my tardiness, but she is never on time; talk about not throwing stones in glass houses.
- Before you judge her finances, remember not to throw stones in glass houses.
The backstory
This proverb has existed in English for centuries, with the earliest written versions appearing in the seventeenth century by writers like George Herbert. It is a staple of moral cautionary tales.
Heard in
Nationwide
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