- English translation
People told the judge, "Sir, a dog has urinated on the wall." He ruled, "Then it must be pulled down and rebuilt seven times." They said, "It's the one between us and you." He answered, "Even less than water will make it clean."
- Literal wording
They said to the judge: "O our master, the wall, a dog urinated on it." He said: "It is torn down seven and built up seven." They said: "This is the one between us and you." He said: "Less than water purifies it."
- Meaning and lesson
The saying ridicules judgments that bend to self-interest. A judge first orders a soiled wall pulled down and rebuilt seven times. Once he hears that it is the wall between the complainants and himself, the same impurity suddenly needs less than water to remove.
In wider use, it names a double standard driven by motive and benefit. Severity is reserved for matters that do not touch the person judging, while leniency appears the moment his own concerns are involved. The humor lies in how quickly principle collapses.
- When it is used
Use this to mock someone whose strict ruling against others suddenly melts when the matter comes close to them. It suits wry comments on biased arbiters or officials. Its coarse verb for urinating makes it unsuitable for formal or polite settings.
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- Colloquial
Cite or copy proverb
How this record reached us: Editorially sourced.
Report an issue with this meaning: People told the judge, "Sir, a dog has urinated on the wall." He ruled, "Then it must be pulled down and rebuilt seven times." They said, "It's the one between us and you." He answered, "Even less than water will make it clean."