A Dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

When the BLIND lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch

Now more common in the metaphorical phrase, the blind leading the blind. With allusion
to MATTHEW xv. 14 (AV) Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind
lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

c 897 ALFRED Gregory’s Pastoral Care (EETS) i. Gif se blinda thone blindan lœt,

he feallath begen [both] on œnne pytt. c 1300 Body & Soul (1889) 49 Ac hwanne the

blinde lat the blinde, In dike he fallen bothe two. 1583 B. MELBANCKE Philotimus 165

In the ditch falls the blind that is led by the blind. 1836 CARLYLE Sartor Resartus II. iii.

It is written, When the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. .. May it not

sometimes be safer, if both leader and led simply—sit still? 1908 H. M. SYLVESTER

Olde Pemaquid 12 If the blind lead the blind, the ditch is but a little way on. 1947 L. P.

HARTLEY Eustace & Hilda xvi. To get Hilda out of the house was a step forward, even

in a Bath chair.. even if they could see nothing beyond their noses, the blind leading the

blind. ignorance; rulers and ruled

A BLIND man’s wife needs no paint

1659 J. HOWELL Proverbs (Spanish) 4 The blind mans wife needs no painting.

1736 B. FRANKLIN Poor Richard’s Almanack (June) God helps them that help

themselves. Why does the blind man’s wife paint her self? 1892 C. M. YONGE Old

Woman’s Outlook in Hampshire Village 166 His [the schoolmaster’s] copies too were

remarkable. One was ‘A blind man’s wife needs no paint.’ ‘Proverbs, sir, Proverbs,’ he

answered, when asked where it came from. appearance; wives and husbands

blind see also in the COUNTRY of the blind, the one-eyed man is king; a DEAF husband
and a blind wife are always a happy couple; LOVE is blind; a NOD’S as good as a wink to a
blind horse; NOTHING so bold as a blind mare.

bliss see where IGNORANCE is bliss, ‘tis folly to be wise.

You cannot get BLOOD from a stone

Frequently used, as a resigned admission, to mean that it is hopeless to try extorting
money, etc., from those who have none. Other unyielding or unlikely substances are
sometimes substituted for stone; the turnip version is frequent in North America.