وقال عليه السلام لرجل رآه يسعى على عدوٍّ له بما فيه إِضرار بنفسه:
Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, saw a man busy against his enemy with what was harmful to himself too, so he said:
إنَّمَا أَنْتَ كَالطَّاعِنِ نَفْسَهُ
You are like one who pierces a spear through himself
لِيَقْتُلَ رِدْفَهُ.
in order to kill the person sitting behind him.