der Esel geht immer voran

German

Etymology

Literally, "the donkey always comes first". Probably from the idea that the donkey walks in front of the carriage but is of lesser value than the people on it.

Proverb

der Esel geht immer voran

1. Said when someone mentions themselves first in an enumeration of people (like “I and you”, “I and my friend”), which is considered unmannered in the German-speaking (and some other) countries

   Synonym: der Esel nennt sich immer zuerst