This is weird to me. It's a very clever, quotable phrase. I don't understand why it is not in my (electronic) Oxford Dictionary of Quotations.

Just like circular definitions in a dictionary, this happens sometimes. In The Wordsworth Book of Literary Anecdotes, the bon mot: "He's a self made man who adores his maker" is credited to Disraeli, speaking of his aide (someone-or-other) and his aide, speaking of Disraeli.