זָרַק אֶבֶן לְמַרְקוּלִיס

ביטוי (אנגלית)

To throw stone at Mecury/to intend to do good and yet commit a crime (Mercury was worshipped by stonethrowing)

הגדרה (אנגלית)

Figuratively by metaphor: to perform an act with good intention and pure heart, yet it is found to be doing an evil thing (originally: to throw a stone at the idol statue Marculis in order to harm it, but also the worshippers of this idol customarily worshipped it by throwing stones at it).

("Like a stone in a mortar - as one who throws a stone at Mercury, this is his work, so everyone who honors the wicked, this is his work" - added Masque of Evil (Zuckermandel), chapter 6, and so: "He who throws a stone at Mercury - this is his work, even on the back of a donkey To stone her (as if to say: Even if one intends only to stone her with stones and not to do any other work)" - Sanhedrin 33 a.)