proverb · Legacy record
People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones at another.
People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones at another.
Historical period not yet established
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
The saying warns people in glass houses against throwing stones at others. In the supplied reading, it questions criticism of faults one also has.
What the words are saying
The fragile house makes vulnerability to a similar charge visible. A responsible interpretation encourages consistency without deciding that an imperfect person can never raise a valid concern. Whether criticism is justified depends on evidence, not only on the critic’s record.
Everyday example
Someone acknowledges their own similar mistake while discussing how a shared problem can be addressed.
When to use it
Use it to examine consistency without dismissing a concern solely because of the critic.
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What it does not mean
A critic’s imperfection does not prove an allegation false or excuse harm.
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
- Not established
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 501; PDF page 73
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.