Near is my shirt, but nearer is my skin

See also the preceding proverb. Cf. early 14th-cent. Fr. plus pres mʾest char que nʾest chemise, my skin is nearer to me than my shirt.

Neerer is my skin then shirte.
[c 1570 in J. P. Collier Old Ballads (1840) 99]

His charitie beginnes at home, and there it ends; neere is his coat, but neerer is his skinne.
[1631 J. Henshaw Spare Hours of Meditations 63]

My Shirt (quoth he) is near me, but my Skin is nearer: Whilst I take care of the Welfare of other Folks, no body can blame me, to apply a little Balsam to my own Sores.
[1712 J. Arbuthnot Lewis Baboon v.]

‘We can't trust you.’‥‘Not your own brother?’ said Jacob. ‘“Near is my shirt, but nearer is my skin,” as the saying is.’
[1890 T. H. Hall caine Bondman ii. x.]

Related to: self-preservation

Bibliography of major proverb collections and works cited from modern editions is available here.