A Dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

visitor see FISH and guests smell after three days.

The VOICE of the people is the voice of God

Cf. a 804 ALCUIN Letter clxiv. in Works (1863) 1.438 solent dicere: voxpopuli, vox Dei,
they often say: the voice of the people is the voice of God.

c 1412 T. HOCCLEVE Regimen of Princes (EETS) 104 Peples vois is goddes voys,

men seyne. 1450 in T. Wright Political Poems (1861) II. 227 The voice of the people is

the voice of God. 1646 BROWNE Pseudodoxia Epidemica I. iii. Though sometimes they

are flattered with that Aphorisme, [they] will hardly beleeve the voyce of the people to

bee the voyce of God. 1822 C. C. COLTON Lacon II. 266 The voice of the People is the

voice of God; this axiom has manifold exceptions. 1914 G. B. SHAW Misalliance p.

lxxii. An experienced demagogue comes along and says, ‘Sir: you are the dictator: the

voice of the people is the voice of God.’ 1989 Washington Post 24 Mar. C21 imagine they

are fine citizens. After all, we elected them and the voice of the people is the voice of

God, remember that. politics; power; rulers and ruled

One VOLUNTEER is worth two pressed men

Pressed men were those who were forced into military service.

1705 T. HEARNE Journal 31 Oct. in Remarks & Collections (1885) I. 62 ‘Tis sd my

LdSeymour presently after Mr. Smith was pronounc’d Speaker, rose up, and told them,

Gentlemen; you have got a Low Church man; but pray remember that 100 Voluntiers are

better than 200 press’d men. 1834 MARRYAT Jacob Faithful I. xiii. ‘Shall I give you a

song?’ ‘That’s right, Tom; a volunteer’s worth two pressed men.’ 1837 F. CHAMIER

Arethusa I. iii. Don’t fancy you will be detained against your will; one volunteer is worth

two pressed men. 1897 R. KIPLING Captains Courageous x. He presumed Harvey might

need a body-servant some day or other, and.. was sure that one volunteer was worth five

hirelings. 1979 M. M. KAYE Shadow of Moon (rev. ed.) iv. The Earl could not be

persuaded to send her away. .. In any case, said the Earl, Winter would need a personal

maid, and in his opinion one volunteer was worth three pressed men. co-operation; free

will and compulsion

vomit see the DOG returns to his vomit.