Make not fish of one, and flesh of another.

Understand the thought

Meaning in plain English

Do not apply unequal standards to people in comparable situations without a fair reason. Notice when similar contributions or mistakes are being treated very differently.

What the words are saying

The fish and flesh are made into contrasting categories, and the proverb warns against assigning one person to each simply to favour one over the other. In a figurative reading, the concern is partial treatment: one person’s request is welcomed while a similar request from another is dismissed. The saying does not require identical treatment where needs, roles or circumstances genuinely differ. Fairness asks which differences are relevant and whether the reason can be explained consistently. Compare the actual cases rather than assuming either that every distinction is unjust or that personal preference is sufficient to justify it.

Everyday example

A committee applies the same submission deadline to two comparable exhibition proposals instead of overlooking a late entry only for a favoured member.

When to use it

Use it when comparable cases are being assigned different standards through favouritism.

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Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.