using One’s Own Spear Against One’s Own Shield
(a wealthy pauper or an honest thief)
‘Said of person who argues
or acts in such a way that he cannot justify himself.
To describe speech or actions that
are mutually opposed to each other from the beginning
and thereby claim
or would result in something impossible.
There was a man who sold spears and shields. Holding one of his shields in hand, he
cried, "My shields are so strong that nothing can pierce them." Then, he picked up one of his
spears and shouted, "My spears are so sharp that there Is nothing they cannot pierce." The
onlookers sniggered at him and one of them said, "So your spears are the sharpest and
your shields are the strongest. But what if one should use your spears to pierce your
shields?"
The man could give no answer.