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In my language, there is a saying which says a bad person would habitually consider everyone to him/herself just because his essenزe / nature is not clear. I have found a proverb in my dictionary of proverbs and colloquialism, but I need to get a confirmation if it works in today / modern American English or it is somehow odd to you. Meanwhile I would be thankful if you could give me some other suggestions:

  • All things look yellow to the jaundiced eye.
A-friend
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    The word projecting is a way to describe this idea (but it is not a proverb).

    Examples: I am often late, so I assume others will be often late. I don't understand the topic, so I assume others don't understand the topic.

    I am projecting. I am projecting attributes of myself onto others.

     – beauxq Aug 30 '16 at 13:01
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    From the KJ version of the Bible: To the pure, all things are pure. But many speakers would not know the reference. – TimR Aug 30 '16 at 14:28
  • @TRomano, but I exactly want to convey the opposite message. "All things look bad to a bad person because he /she has a bad nature". This is what I need to say. :) – A-friend Aug 31 '16 at 08:02
  • @A-friend: It was a backhand way of saying it. The passage goes on to say "...but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled." – TimR Aug 31 '16 at 10:30
  • Cynical works here doesn't it? – Michael Curry Jan 30 '17 at 14:42
  • MichaelCurry I have no idea. Let's see what @TRomano would say? – A-friend Jan 30 '17 at 18:31

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"It takes one to know one"

The person who expressed criticism has similar faults to the person being criticized.

"The pot calling the kettle black"

Accusing someone of faults that one has oneself...

Both quotes from the linked source, www.dictionary.com

Ghotir
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