If you drink milk under a date tree they will say it is toddy. (Telugu). Join with good men and you will be one of them. (Spanish). Keep company with the good and you will be one of the number. (Portuguese). Smoke is no less an evidence of fire than that a man's character is that of the character of his associates. (Arabian). Take your son to the market place and see with whom he associates. (Syrian). With whom you are such one you are. (Syrian). A MAN MAY BRING HIS HORSE TO WATER BUT HE CANNOT MAKE HIM DRINK A man, by reason of commercial or political position and power, may be able to force another to obey his will, but he cannot compel him to change his opinions. "He that complies against his will Is of his own opinion still." SAMUEL BUTLER, A.D. 1612-1680, Hudibras. The proverb has been attributed to Queen Elizabeth of England, but it could not have originated with her-the thought is almost as old as man. "He who demands, does not command" is an Italian saying that is expressed in many proverbial forms and applied to the management of both men and animals. "But that time ye thought me a daw, so that I A Dialogue of Effectual Proverbs. "I said I was afraid my father would force me to be a lawyer. JOHNSON. 'Sir, you need not be afraid of his forcing you to be a laborious practicing lawyer; that is not in his power. For as the proverb says, 'One man may lead a horse to the water, but twenty cannot make him drink.""-JAMES BOSWELL, A.D. 1740-1795, Life of Samuel John son. "Ruben, the son of my cottar! Very weel, Jeanie lass, wilfu' woman will hae her wayRuben Butler! He hasna in his pouch the value o' the auld black coat he wears-But it disna signify.' And as he spoke he shut successively and with vehemence the drawers of his treasury. 'A fair offer, Jeanie, is nae cause of feud-A man may bring a horse to the water, but twenty winna gar him drink-And as for wasting my substance on other folk's joes'"-SIR WALTER SCOTT, A.D. 1771-1832, The Heart of Mid-Lothian. "There is the well-known and excellent warning that 'One may take a horse to the water but you cannot make him drink'—a hint that one cannot always have one's own way, and that the co-operation of the other party in the arrangement is an essential point."-F. EDWARD HULME, A.D. 1841-1909, Proverb Lore. VARIANT PROVERBS A man may lead a horse to the water, but four and twenty cannot gar him drink. (Scotch). Hwa is thet mei thet hors evettrien the him-self mule drinken? Who is he that may water the horse and not drink himself. (English). If an ox won't drink you cannot make him bend his neck. (Chinese). In vain do you lead the ox to the water if he be not thirsty. (English, French). One man may lead a horse to water but twelve won't make him drink. (Gaelic). One may lead a horse to the water but twenty cannot make him drink. (English). You cannot make an ass drink if he is not thirsty. (French). You may force a man to shut his eyes but you cannot make him sleep. (Danish). You may bring a horse to the river but he will drink when and what he pleaseth. (English). You may force an ox to water but you can't make him drink. (Danish). ALLIED PROVERBS He must be strong to pull a rope against a stronger. (Danish). He who demands does not command. (Italian). Law cannot persuade where it cannot punish. (English). They may tie a Lingam round a man's neck however much he resists it, but can they make him worship it? (Telugu). Thirty-three crores of gods joined together can make me hold my nose, but can they make me say "Nârâyana?” (Telugu). Undertake no more than you can perform. (English). Who leads an ox to drink must first wet his own feet. (Chinese). Who has no thirst has no business at the fountain. (Dutch). You cannot coax de mornin' glory to clime de wrong way roun' de corn stalk. (American-Negro). A MISS IS AS GOOD AS A MILE 165 Though a failure may not be great it is a failure. A narrow escape is an escape. Too late is too late. If the train starts on time one may as well be an hour late as ten minutes. The origin of this proverb is unknown. Some have thought that it was derived from the less familiar "An inch of a miss is as good as a mile of a miss," but it is not probable. Ray's version, however, indicates that there was a close connection between the two. He renders the saying, "An inch of a miss is as good as an ell." Others believe that the proverb originally referred to two legendary soldiers of Charlemagne who resembled each other in character and appearance and who were named Amis and Amile. As they were regarded as martyrs it is said to have become the custom to invoke either of them when desired, hence the saying, "Amis is as good as Amile." Of course such an origin belongs to the realm of fancy and is not reliable. Martin, Abbot of Asello in Italy, desired an inscription over the gate of his abbey, so the story runs, and selected this sentence for the purpose: "Gate be open. Never be closed |