Robert Christy, comp. Proverbs, Maxims and Phrases of All Ages. 1887.

Inconsistency

Blind guides which strain at a gnat and swallow a camel.New Testament.

He avoided the fly and swallowed the spider.Portuguese.

He leaps into a deep river to avoid a shallow brook.

He robs Peter to pay Paul.

He runs from the bear to fall in with the wolves.Russian.

He shuns the bear and runs into the pit.Arabian.

It is said they are making silver bells for the child about to be born whilst the child on the lap is crying for a handful of rice.Tamil.

To get out of one muck into another.Spanish.

To get out of the rain under the spout.German.

To give ruffles to a man that wants a shirt.

To jump in the water for fear of the rain.French.

To jump out of the frying-pan into the fire.French, Spanish.

To spare at the spigot and let it run out at the bung-hole.

To steal the leather and give away the shoes for God’s sake.German.

To steal the pig and give away the pettitoes for God’s sake.Italian, Spanish, Portuguese.

To strip one altar to cover another.

His evening sang and his morning sang are na alike.

Said the frying-pan to the kettle, “Stand off, black bottom.”Spanish.

Said the raven to the crow “Get out of that, blackamoor.”Spanish.

The naked man is making a jacket for dogs.Sri Lankan.

To see the mote in another’s eye and not the beam in your own.Dutch.