He who first offends causes the strife.

Explanation

(English-origin maxim.) The first aggressor bears the blame for the conflict that follows — cite this to establish that the party who initiated the wrong cannot complain of the consequences that flowed from his own provocation.

Where this applies

• A man starts a bar fight by throwing the first punch, then sues the other man for his injuries; the court holds that the first aggressor caused the strife and cannot now complain of its consequences.
• A company breaches a contract and then sues the other party for failing to perform; the court dismisses the claim because the party who first offended is the cause of the dispute.
• A neighbor deliberately floods another's yard by diverting his downspout, then complains when the other neighbor retaliates; the court holds the first offender responsible for starting the conflict.