Know someone who keeps telling you that you should exercise but don’t practice what they preach? Well, that’s a “Do as I say, not as I do” situation. Read on to learn the meaning of this proverb and how you can use it in your conversations.
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What Does Do as I Say, Not as I Do Mean?
“Do as I say, not as I do” is a proverb that means to follow someone’s advice or instructions and not their own behavior.
So, where did it come from? The proverb emanates from Matthew 23:3. In this verse, Jesus warned against the hypocrisy of religious leaders by saying, “So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.”
Tip: Proverbs are different than idioms. Unlike idioms, which are figurative and hard to deduce meaning from the individual words, proverbs are typically straightforward to understand.
Example sentences:
- Preachers and politicians always have the do as I say, not as I do mentality.
- I skipped my workout, but do as I say, not as I do— be consistent and stick to your routine.
- It’s always a case of do as I say, not as I do with teachers who ask students to arrive early at school while they arrive late.
- His drunk mom advising him to avoid alcohol is the ultimate do as I say, not as I do moment.
- Always wear a seatbelt—even if I sometimes forget. Do as I say, not as I do.
- Our dad often said do as I say, not as I do when advising us on things he failed at.
- My favorite pastor acknowledges that to err is human and always says, “Do as I say, not as I do,” whenever he is preaching.
Related Terms
The saying has other related phrases that emphasize being consistent or holding yourself to account.
- Practice what you preach
- Actions speak louder than words
- Leading by words, not by example
- Easier said than done
- Double standards
- Walk the talk
- Talk is cheap
- Contradiction
- Put your money where your mouth is
- Don’t just talk the talk, walk the walk
- Judge a tree by its fruit
When and How to Use Do as I Say, Not as I Do?
You can use the proverb in situations to humorously and lightheartedly point out your contradictions or call out someone else’s. For example: “I’m asking you to save your money while I’m here spending my last coin buying the latest phone. Do as I say, not as I do.”
Tip: When using this proverb to poke fun, you should admit your shortcomings and offer valuable advice.
Another situation in which you can use this proverb is when you are giving advice that, of course, contradicts your behavior or actions.
Final Thoughts
“Do as I say, not as I do” is a reminder that good advice can come from people who don’t always follow it themselves. The proverb reiterates the importance of following valuable advice regardless of its source. You can use it to highlight hypocrisy or, in a humorous way, to acknowledge inconsistency when giving advice that contradicts your actions.
