But it is no good using the tongs of reason to pull the Fundamentalists' chestnuts out of the fire of contradiction. Their real troubles lie elsewhere. Garrett Hardin
To pull the chestnuts out of the fire with the cat's paw. Molière
Watchfulness is the only guard against cunning. Be intent on his intentions. Many succeed in making others do their own affairs, and unless you possess the key to their motives you may at any moment be forced to take their chestnuts out of the fire to the damage of your own fingers. Baltasar Gracián
I sail, run dogs, ride horses, play professional poker and tell stories about the stuff I've been through. And I'm still a romantic; I still want Bambi to make it out of the fire. Gary Paulsen
To do like the monkey, get the chesnuts out of the fire with the cat's paw. French Proverb
Take the chestnuts out of the fire with the cat's paw. Romanian Proverb