Learn English – n idiom/proverb in English to denote unfair discrimination

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In Tamil, we have a proverb that roughly translates into English as

If the mother-in-law breaks the pot, it is just clay . But if the daughter-in-law breaks the pot, it is made of gold!

Background

This proverb is funnily (and sometimes very sarcastically) used to highlight the conflicts/difference of opinions between mother-in-laws and daughter-in-laws in the very early stages of a marriage.

In South India, arranged marriages are the norm and in such a setting, the bride typically takes considerable amount of time to adjust into the groom's family. Suppose, if there are any confrontations/ disagreements very early in a marriage between the bride and her mother in law and if the groom is highly supportive to his mother (and his family), this saying is used by outsiders/family members of the bride. In essence, they are accusing the groom for not taking the neutral ground and showing partiality towards his mother (the girl's mother-in-law).

Unfortunately, my research for an English equivalent drew a blank.

Any suggestions?

Best Answer

In "The Animals Sick of the Plague", the fabulist Jean de la Fontaine wrote:

Depending on whether you are rich or wretched, the Court will judge you black or white.

The original moral of the fable:

Selon que vous serez puissant ou misérable,
Les jugements de cour vous rendront blanc ou noir.

is sometimes translated as:

Thus human courts acquit the strong,
And doom the weak, as therefore wrong.