If each would sweep before his own door, we should have a clean city.各家门前扫干净,全城都干净。
这条谚语不同于中国谚语“各人自扫门前雪,莫管他人瓦上霜”所表示的自私消极态度,而是一种积极意义,意思是,大家都负责把自己分内之事做好,那么整个社会事业也就好办了。这是中国成语“众志成城”,“众擎易举”的意思。
同样意思的谚语还有:
When everyone takes care of himself, care is taken of all.
每个人如能照顾自己,其他一切自然得到照顾。
关于“众擎易举”,也有以下一句:
Many hands make light work.
人多好办事。
Many hands provide great strength.
人多力量大。
可另参阅He that is ill to himself will be good to nobody.