The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (324 page)

BOOK: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs

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, the god always brings like to like; CICERO
De Senectute
III. vii.
pares autem vetere proverbio cum paribus facillime congreganture
, according to the old proverb equals most easily mix together; early 14th-cent. Fr.
lung semblable quiert lautre
, one like thing seeks another.

a
1400
Legends of Saints
(STS) 1. 226
In proverbe I haf hard say That lyk to lyk drawis ay.
c
1450
Proverbs of Good Counsel
in
Book of Precedence
(EETS) 70
This proverbe dothe specify, ‘Lyke wyll to lyke in eche company’.
1648
Hesperides
378
Like will to like, each Creature loves his kinde.
1822
Peveril
II. ii.
How could I help it? like will to like—the boy would come—the girl would see him.
1855
Nature & Human Nature
I. xi.
Jessie had a repugnance to the union … ‘Jessie .. nature, instead of forbiddin' it approves of it; for like takes to like’.
1922
Ovington's Bank
xxxi.
He's learned this at your d—d counter, sir! That's where it is. It's like to like.
1981
Mother's Boys
xiv.
Mrs. Hodsden's connection with his house will be quite plain to you when you meet my husband. Like clings to like, they say. .. And those two certainly cling.