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 lustlfy 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 plercl The
onlookers snlggered 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.