proverb · Words worth keeping
Do as I say not as I do.
Do as I say not as I do.
Historical period not yet established
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
The speaker demands that instructions be followed even when their own conduct differs. The saying exposes a gap between a stated rule and its example.
What the words are saying
The contrast separates what is said from what is done. A useful application asks whether the instruction has a sound basis despite the speaker’s inconsistency. It does not make either obedience or rejection automatic; the rule and the conduct each deserve assessment.
Everyday example
A team asks why a rule matters after noticing that the person announcing it does not follow it.
When to use it
Use it to discuss inconsistent example and the basis for a rule.
What it does not mean
Inconsistency does not alone prove a rule either right or wrong.
Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
United States
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin.- Historical period
- Historical period not yet established
No sufficiently supported historical placement has been established. Import and download dates are not treated as composition dates. - Recorded source
- Contributor-provided proverb reference
Supplied reference A; unit 82; PDF page 16
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.