Rub a galled horse on the back and he will wince. 
Proverbs on a similar topic
- Boys will be boys.
- Forbidden fruit is sweet.
- Am I my brother's keeper?
- Honour to whom honour is due.
- An open door may tempt a saint.
- He that has a great nose thinks everybody is speaking of it.
- He that makes himself a sheep shall be eaten by the wolf.
- He that makes himself an ass, must not take it ill, if men ride him.
- When God will punish, he will first take away the understanding.
Related proverbs
Similar proverbs in another language
French
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Pécheur a toujours peur.
Sinner is always afraid.
German
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Der Hund weiß am besten, wo er das Fleisch gestohlen hat.
The dog knows best where he stole the meat.
Czech
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Ví pes, čí sádlo snědl.
The dog knows whose lard he ate.
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Ví kočka, čí maso snědla.
Does the cat know whose meat it has eaten.
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Ví liška, komu řemen ohryzla.
The fox knows whose belt it has bitten off.