🥘 Pot Calling the Kettle Black, The 🖤
Meaning: Accusing someone of faults that one has oneself.
Origin: This term dates from when most cooking was done over open hearths, leading to the inevitable blackening of all utensils by soot. The earliest literary references to this saying appear in the early seventeenth century. For example, John Clarke’s 1639 version reads: “The pot calls the pan burnt-arse.”
Modern Equivalent: “Look who’s talking” is a more straightforward equivalent, believed by some, including William Safire, to have derived from the Yiddish kuk nor ver s’ret. In the UK, this phrase morphs slightly to “listen who’s talking,” dating from the second half of the twentieth century.
Related and Similar Terms
- Plank in One’s Own Eye - Refers to seeing a mote in someone else’s eye while ignoring the plank in one’s own. (Biblical reference)
- People Who Live in Glass Houses Shouldn’t Throw Stones - Those vulnerable to criticism should not criticize others.
- Twist the knife - To make a bad situation worse for someone already suffering.
- Calling the Shots - Making decisions and directing actions, typically a trait of leadership.
Humorous Quote:
“Hypocrisy is the homage vice pays to virtue."—François de La Rochefoucauld
Proverbs:
- “It takes one to know one.”
- “To find fault is easy; to do better may be difficult.”
Book Recommendations:
- “1984” by George Orwell - A dystopian novel where the pot is constantly calling the kettle black when it comes to mistruths and moral failings.
- “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen - Offers a social critique full of characters calling each other out while holding similar flaws.
- “Brave New World” by Aldous Huxley - Another dive into the world of hypocrisy and social control.
Movie Recommendations:
- “The Devil’s Advocate” (1997) - A lawyer learns that even the best of intentions can lead to hellish realities.
- “Fight Club” (1999) - Explores the dichotomy of self and the hypocrisy of societal norms.
- “Thank You for Smoking” (2005) - A satirical tale of a tobacco lobbyist serving as a quintessential case of pots and kettles.
Song Recommendations:
- “Man in the Mirror” by Michael Jackson - A heartfelt call to look at oneself before criticizing others.
- “You’re So Vain” by Carly Simon - A musical testament to ironic self-awareness.
Poetry:
- “The Hollow Man” by T.S. Eliot - Touches on the theme of emptiness and the ironies of human frailties.
- “Desiderata” by Max Ehrmann - Offers wisdom on approaching life’s muddles with grace and integrity.
Farewell, intrepid reader! As you journey through the wonderful twists and turns of language, never forget that even the blackest kettles can shine bright in their unique, sooty glory.
