A hand that's dirty with honest labor is fit to shake with any neighbor.

This saying circulates as a piece of folk wisdom in English, reflecting a long-standing rural and working-class ethic that treats manual labor as honorable rather than degrading. It belongs to a broader tradition of proverbs that defend the dignity of work and reject social snobbery—especially the idea that “clean hands” signal higher moral or social status. The image of the handshake points to everyday neighborly equality: in small communities, one’s worth is measured less by refinement than by reliability, effort, and integrity. Because it is proverbially transmitted, it is difficult to tie to a single first speaker, date, or definitive printed origin.

The proverb argues that honest work confers moral respectability, even if it leaves visible marks like dirt or calluses. “Dirty” hands symbolize labor and necessity, while “fit to shake” frames equality as a social and ethical test: a person should not be shunned for the signs of work. The line also implies a critique of hypocrisy—hands may be clean yet engaged in dishonest dealings—so it elevates integrity over appearances. In emphasizing “any neighbor,” it promotes democratic fellowship: community bonds and mutual respect should cross class lines when the work is honorable.