fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me

proverb

After being tricked once, one should learn from one's mistakes and avoid being tricked in the same way another time.

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Meanings

proverb

alternative fool me once, shame on thee; fool me twice, shame on me · alternative fool me once, shame on you · alternative fool me once

  1. After being tricked once, one should learn from one's mistakes and avoid being tricked in the same way another time.

Translations

Dutch een ezel stoot zich geen twee keer aan dezelfde steen
  • een ezel stoot zich geen twee keer aan dezelfde steenTranslations
French qui me trompe une fois, honte à lui; qui me trompe deux fois, honte à moi, piège-moi une fois, honte sur toi, piège-moi deux fois, honte sur moi
  • qui me trompe une fois, honte à lui; qui me trompe deux fois, honte à moiTranslations
  • piège-moi une fois, honte sur toi, piège-moi deux fois, honte sur moiTranslations
German täusche mich einmal, Schande über dich; täusche mich zweimal, Schande über mich
  • täusche mich einmal, Schande über dich; täusche mich zweimal, Schande über michTranslations
Hungarian ha egyszer átversz, az a te szégyened. ha kétszer átversz, az már az enyém
  • ha egyszer átversz, az a te szégyened. ha kétszer átversz, az már az enyémTranslations
Persian یک بار گولم زدی، تو خجالت بکش. دوبار گولم بزنی من باید خجالت بکشم.
  • یک بار گولم زدی، تو خجالت بکش. دوبار گولم بزنی من باید خجالت بکشم.Translations
Turkish eşek bile bir düştüğü yere bir daha düşmez
  • eşek bile bir düştüğü yere bir daha düşmezTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/fool%20me%20once%2C%20shame%20on%20you%3B%20fool%20me%20twice%2C%20shame%20on%20me

MLA

“fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/fool%20me%20once%2C%20shame%20on%20you%3B%20fool%20me%20twice%2C%20shame%20on%20me. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/fool%20me%20once%2C%20shame%20on%20you%3B%20fool%20me%20twice%2C%20shame%20on%20me.

Source: fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.