What does the proverb 'People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones' mean to you?

Question

I mean, how do you interpret it?

I have heard different interpretations.

Answer 1

It means that you should be careful before you condemn others for a mistake that you yourself might be guilty of to some degree. The act of criticism is like throwing a stone. Being equally guilty of certain mistakes is like living in a glass house, because others can see your mistakes clearly. The result of throwing a stone in a glass house is, of course, that you break your own house. Likewise, the result of criticizing someone for an error you yourself are guilty of is that you unintentionally cast the criticism back upon yourself.

An example of this, in my mind, is Anglo-born American citizens who can't write or spell English properly and who nevertheless go on about how foreigners should have to learn to speak English to immigrate to our country. It looks very bad to criticize someone's failure to acquire the English language when one can't write a simple sentence in English oneself without making a ton of grammatical or spelling errors!

Answer 2

I agree with Niki that it means more to "do unto others as you would have them do unto you", in other words, "treat others the way you want them to treat you".

I don't think the other interpretation of "people shouldn't criticize others for faults that they themselves might have" is possible, as that interpretation is closer to "the pot calling the kettle black".

I think the other interpretation of the phrase depicting karma ("what you do to others will come back to you) is also possible. It's possible because as someone who lives inside a glass, in order to throw stones at others, you have to break the glass of your glass house. When you break the glass, you can cut yourself.

Answer 3

To me the term means don't be a hypocrite if you did live in a glass house would you want people to throw stones at it? No? Then you shouldn't cast stones either.

Answer 4

It means to me that if you know that your feelings are easily hurt then don't hurt someone who feelings is hurt that easily too because someday, some time or somehow someone is going to hurt you back. Don't insult other people cause when you get insult right back you get hurt. Don't throw stones if you live in a glass house(feelings get hurt easily) or else your house(feelings) will shatter.

Answer 5

no longer basically would desire to they no longer throw stones in a tumbler living house, and fry Baron Verulam contained in the nude.... yet while they stay in a tumbler living house, they might desire to completely replace their outfits contained in the basement.

Answer 6

the way i heard it in india was,"people who live in glass houses should not bathe in the nude" makes more sense anyway!

Answer 7

To me it means that people shouldn't criticize others, because they also have faults that are worthy of criticism.

Answer 8

To me, I shouldn't criticize others, if I can be said to do exactly the same thing.

Answer 9

You are as fragile as the others. Act accordingly

Answer 10

Sweep your own back door step before you sweep some one Else's.