A Dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

Traits in a person’s character are reinforced by associating with similar people: e.g.
PSALMS xviii. 25–6 (BCP) With the holy thou shalt be holy: and with a perfect man thou
shalt be perfect. With the clean thou shalt be clean: and with the froward thou shalt learn
frowardness.

1557 R. EDGEWORTH Sermons 178 V Wyth a frowarde [evilly disposed] synner, a

man shall be naughtye [wicked].. for lyke maketh like. c 1577 Misogonus 2 V The like

bredes the like (eche man sayd). 1842 TENNYSON Poems (1969) 703 Like men, like

manners: Like breeds like, they say. 1931 ‘D. FROME’ Strange Death of Martin Green

xiv. Murder is an awfully bad thing for anybody to get away with, even once. Like breeds

like. 1969 A. P. HANNUM Look back with Love xxv. The Richard saga seemed.. summed

up in her grandfather’s words.. ‘Like begets like in spite of the Devil.’ similarity and

dissimilarity

LIKE will to like

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

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 HERRICK Hesperides

378 Like will to like, each Creature loves his kinde. 1822 SCOTT Peveril II. ii. How

could I help it? like will to like—the boy would come—the girl would see him. 1855 T.

C. HALIBURTON 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 S. J.

WEYMAN 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 R. BARNARD 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. similarity and dissimilarity

like see also (adjective) like FATHER, like son; like MASTER, like man; like MOTHER,
like daughter; like PEOPLE, like priest; (verb) if you don’t like the HEAT, get out of the
kitchen.

linen see never CHOOSE your women or your linen by candlelight; one does not WASH