A Dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

Principally known in the United States, this is one of several proverbs popularized by the
Kennedy family. It is generally used in economic contexts, the tide being that of prosperity.

1963 J. F. KENNEDY Address 25 June in Public Papers of Presidents of U.S. (1964)

519 As they say on my own Cape Cod, a rising tide lifts all the boats. And a partnership,

by definition, serves both partners, without domination or unfair advantage. 1988

Washington Post 7 Mar. A12 The theory used to be that all Americans had a stake in

prosperity. The comforting notion was that the rising tide would lift all boats. Now,

however, both the theory and some of the boats have holes in them. 1990 Washington

Times 6 Mar. C2 The country was in a sharp economic expansion coming out of ‘82. This

made everybody look smart—you know, the rising tide lifts all boats. 2001 Washington

Post 16 Aug. E1 ‘In the high-growth environment of the past, a rising tide lifted all

boats,’ said Magid Abraham, chief executive of ComScore Networks, a Reston firm that

measures online activity. good fortune

river see if you have to LIVE in the river, it is best to be friends with the crocodile; the
SEA refuses no river; if you SIT by the river for long enough...

The ROAD to hell is paved with good intentions

Earlier forms of the proverb omit the first three words. Cf. ST. FRANCIS DE SALES,
Letter lxxiv. le proverbe tire de notre saint Bernard, ‘L’enfer est plein de bonnes volontes ou
desirs’, the proverb taken from our St. Bernard, ‘Hell is full of good intentions or desires.’

1574 E. HELLOWES tr. Guevara’s Epistles 205 Hell is full of good desires. 1654 R.

WHITLOCK Observations on Manners of English 203 It is a saying among Divines, that

Hell is full of good Intentions, and Meanings. 1736 WESLEY Journal 10 July (1910) I. I.

246 It is a true saying, ‘Hell is paved with good intentions’. 1847 J. A. FROUDE Shadows

of Clouds ix. I shall have nothing to hand in, except intentions,—what they say the road

to the wrong place is paved with. 1855 H. G. BOHN Hand-Book of Proverbs 514 The road

to hell is paved with good intentions. 2001 Washington Times 5 Dec. D8 (Herb & Jamaal

comic strip)’I’m sorry if I made things a mess with you and Yolanda. But I’ll have you

know that I had nothing but good intentions.’ ‘They say, “The road to ruin is paved with

good intentions.”.. and you keep making potholes.’ action and inaction; intentions

road see also there is no ROYAL road to learning.

All ROADS lead to Rome