inception more than three centuries ago. brevity and long-windednessGREAT minds think alikeUsed ironically. Both verb and noun have changed in the course of this proverb’s history,
the earliest instance of the present form thus far discovered being quot. 1898. Jump used
absolutely in the sense of ‘agree completely’ or ‘coincide’ is now archaic.
1618 D. BELCHIER Hans Beer-Pot D1 Though he made that verse, Those words
were made before. .. Good wits doe iumpe. 1761 STERNE Tristram Shandy III. ix. Great
wits jump: for the moment Dr. Slop cast his eyes upon his bag.. the very same thought
occurred. 1889 A. JAMES Journal 1 Dec. (1964) 61 As great minds jump this proves..
that my Mind is Great! 1898 C. G. ROBERTSON Voces Academicae 24 Curious how
great minds think alike. My pupil wrote me the same explanation about his non-
appearance. .. 1922 Punch 27 Dec. 601 Lord Riddell considers that Mr. H. G. Wells is one
of the world’s greatest minds. Great minds, as the saying is, think alike. 2002 Washington
Times 28 May C9 (Bottomliners cartoon) ‘Great minds think alike—that’s why we’re
never in agreement.’ coincidence; harmony and disharmonyGREAT oaks from little acorns growc 1385 CHAUCER Troilus & Criseyde II. 1335 As an ook comth of a litel spir
[shoot], So thorugh this letter.. Encressen gan desir. 1579 S. GOSSON School of Abuse
20 V But Tall Cedars from little graynes shoote high: great Oakes, from slender rootes
spread wide. 1584 J. WITHALS Dict. (rev. ed.) D4 Of a nut springes an hasill, and of an
Akorn an hie or tall oke. 1732 T. FULLER Gnomologia no. 4576 The greatest Oaks have
been little Acorns. 1777 D. EVERETT in Columbian Orator (1797) 58 Large streams
from little fountains flow, Tall oaks from little acorns grow. 1923 Times 13 Oct. 7 Here in
England, as nowhere else in the world, ‘great oaks from little acorns grow’. The oak, as
the emblem of British strength, has been symbolic in many ways. 2002 Times 28 Mar. 27
One shouldn’t sneer. From little acorns do mighty oak trees grow. beginnings and
endings; great and smallgreat see also BIG fleas have little fleas upon their backs to bite them; DEATH is the
great leveller; LITTLE strokes fell great oaks; LITTLE thieves are hanged, but great ones
escape; there’s no great LOSS without some gain; POVERTY is no disgrace, but it is a great
inconvenience; THRIFT is a great revenue; TIME is a great healer.
The GREATER the sinner, the greater the saint