Tu Quoque: Why “You Do It Too” Does Not Answer a Claim
Tu quoque, Latin for “you too,” is the fallacy of dismissing a claim because the person making it does not follow it or has done the same thing. This guide explains why hypocrisy does not make a claim false, when pointing out inconsistency is fair, how it relates to whataboutism, and how to reply.
Updated 2026-11-04
What is the tu quoque fallacy?
Tu quoque is Latin for “you also.” It is an argument that dismisses a claim or criticism by pointing out that the person making it is guilty of the same fault or does not follow their own advice. “You tell me not to smoke, but you smoke yourself.” The implication is that the criticism can therefore be ignored.
The reasoning fails because the truth of a claim does not depend on the behavior of the person who states it. A smoker can give correct advice about smoking. The speaker’s inconsistency may be a fair criticism of the speaker, but it does not answer the claim.
The pattern to look for
It usually follows this pattern.
- Person A criticizes person B, or makes a recommendation.
- Person B responds that A has done the same, or does not follow it.
- B concludes that the criticism is invalid, or that B is off the hook.
- The original claim is never examined.
Examples in everyday talk and debate
The same error appears in different settings. These examples show the pattern and what is missing from each.
| Setting | Exchange | What is not addressed |
|---|---|---|
| Health | “You tell me to eat less sugar, yet you eat cake every day.” | Whether sugar is bad for health. |
| Politics | “Your party criticizes spending, but it overspent when it was in power.” | Whether the current spending is wise. |
| Ethics | “You say lying is wrong, but I have heard you lie.” | Whether lying is wrong. |
| Climate | “You care about emissions, but you fly on holiday.” | What the evidence on emissions shows. |
| Work | “You say we should arrive on time; you were late last week.” | Whether punctuality matters to the team. |
| International | “You condemn our actions, but you have done worse.” | Whether the actions were wrong. |
Why it is persuasive
Hypocrisy provokes a strong reaction. Many people feel that someone who does not follow their own advice has lost the right to give it, and that feeling is hard to separate from the logical point. A tu quoque also deflects: it shifts the spotlight to the accuser, which can relieve the pressure on the person criticized.
It works socially because it can make the audience feel the original speaker is insincere. In that case, the audience may stop listening, even though the claim has not been rebutted.
Watch it explained
A short video can make the pattern easier to spot the next time you hear it.
Watch: Critical Thinking: Fallacies: Ad Hominem (Wireless Philosophy). When attacking a person is and is not a fallacy.
When it is not a fallacy
Pointing out inconsistency is not always a fallacy. It can be relevant in at least three situations. First, when the speaker claims a universal principle and the inconsistency shows that they do not really hold it, which tests the principle. Second, when sincerity matters, such as when someone claims to speak from experience that their conduct contradicts. Third, when the inconsistency suggests the speaker’s evidence may be unreliable. Even then, it should lead to a closer look at the claim, not a dismissal.
A related and fair move is to ask for consistent standards: “If this rule applies to us, why not to you?” That is a question about fairness, and it is legitimate. The fallacy is to conclude that the rule therefore does not apply or is wrong.
How to respond
A graceful reply grants what is fair and returns to the point.
- Acknowledge the inconsistency if it is real: “You may be right that I do not live up to it.”
- Separate the person from the claim: “That does not change whether the claim is true.”
- Restate the claim and ask for a response to it.
- If they raise a fairness point, answer it: “I agree the same rule should apply to everyone.”
- If it continues, name the move calmly: “That is about me, not about the argument.”
Using this in a debate
Tu quoque appears often in political debate, where each side points to the other’s record. Judges usually treat it as a weak rebuttal unless it is tied to the principle at stake. If an opponent says “your side did the same”, ask what follows for the motion. If the point is that your principle is applied inconsistently, concede it and defend the principle; if the point is that the policy is bad, make them show why.
If you want to use inconsistency fairly, frame it as a question about the principle: “If this is the rule, then it should apply to you too. Is that your position?” It puts the burden back on them to reconcile their principle with their conduct.
Whataboutism and tu quoque
Whataboutism is a close relative of tu quoque. “What about…?” is used to respond to criticism by pointing to someone else’s wrongdoing, often a different case. It is sometimes a fair point, if it shows that a standard is being applied selectively. It is a fallacy if it replaces an answer. A useful rule is to ask what the comparison is meant to show. If it shows an inconsistency worth addressing, address it, and then return to the original question. If it only shifts blame, it is a red herring or a tu quoque, and the original criticism still stands.
Related fallacies
These are easy to confuse with this one, or often appear alongside it.
- Ad hominem: the broader family of personal attacks.
- Whataboutism: deflecting by pointing to another case.
- Red herring: changing the subject.
- Appeal to hypocrisy: another name for tu quoque.
Frequently asked questions
What does tu quoque mean?
It is Latin for “you too.” It names the fallacy of dismissing a claim because the speaker is guilty of the same thing.
What is an example of tu quoque?
“You tell me to save money, but you spend freely yourself.” It does not address whether saving is a good idea.
Is tu quoque a type of ad hominem?
Yes. It attacks the speaker’s consistency instead of the claim, so it is generally classed as a form of ad hominem.
Is it ever fair to point out hypocrisy?
Yes, when it shows that a principle is not truly held or that a speaker’s sincerity or evidence is in doubt. It is still not a refutation of the claim itself.
How do you respond to tu quoque?
Acknowledge any fair point about yourself, then point out that it does not change whether the claim is true, and ask them to respond to it.
Sources and further reading
- Tu quoque (Wikipedia)
- Ad hominem (Wikipedia)
- Logical Fallacies (Purdue Online Writing Lab)
- Fallacies (UNC Writing Center)
- Fallacies (Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy)