Don’t throw stones in glass houses

Meaning

This idiom advises against criticizing or attacking others for flaws when you have similar or worse faults yourself, highlighting the hypocrisy of such actions. It suggests that those in vulnerable positions, like living in a glass house, should not throw stones that invite retaliation. The phrase is used in moral, social, or political contexts to promote self-awareness and restraint, often with a reproving or ethical tone, emphasizing the risks of inviting scrutiny through judgmental behavior.

Origin

The phrase has roots in 14th-century Europe, with a Latin proverb *qui in vitreis habitat, non debet lapides iactare* (‘he who lives in glass should not throw stones’). In English, Geoffrey Chaucer’s *Troilus and Criseyde* (1385) uses a similar metaphor: ‘Who that hath an hed of verre, fro cast of stones war him.’ The modern form appeared in George Herbert’s 1640 *Outlandish Proverbs*: ‘Whose house is of glass, must not throw stones at another.’ It gained traction in the 17th century, reflecting Puritan values of self-examination, and was popularized in the 19th century by writers like Charles Dickens. Its spread in American English, especially during political debates, underscored its relevance to public accountability and personal integrity.

Variants (4)
People in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones
Don’t throw stones if you live in a glass house
Those in glass houses should not throw stones
Glass houses, don’t throw stones
Usage Examples (6)
Don’t throw stones in glass houses—you’re just as guilty of being late as she is.
People in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones; he criticized her work but his own is flawed.
Those in glass houses should not throw stones—check your own ethics before judging others.
She was warned not to throw stones if she lived in a glass house, given her own shady dealings.
Glass houses, don’t throw stones—his gossiping is no better than hers.
Don’t throw stones in glass houses; your reputation isn’t spotless either.