Be the thing you would be called.
More German Proverbs:
Fortune and women are partial to fools.German
I will not bite any dog, says the shepherd's dog, for I must save my teeth for the wolf.
German
Many can pack the cards that cannot play.
German
To catch rats the cats take off their gloves.
German
The fuller the cask, the duller its sound.
German
A penny saved is two-pence got.
German