The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (302 page)
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The KING can do no wrong
Altered to
Queen
when appropriate. Cf. the legal maxim:
rex non potest peccare
, the king can do no wrong; also
c
1538
T. STARKEY
England in Reign of King Henry VIII
(EETS) I. iv. Wyl you make a kyng to have no more powar then one of hys lordys? Hyt ys commynly sayd .. a kyng ys aboue hys lawys.
a
1654
Table-talk
(1689) 27
The King can do no wrong, that is no Process [action at law] can be granted against him.
1765
Commentaries on Laws of England
I. vii.
The King can do no wrong …The prerogative of the crown extends not to do any injury: it is created for the benefit of the people, and therefore cannot be exerted to their prejudice.
1888
Beechcroft at Rockstone
II. xxii.
‘So, Aunt Jane is your Pope’. ‘No; she's the King that can do no wrong,’ said Gillian, laughing.
1952
Hour Awaits
191
It was very different with Augustus … We had always expected that … In his case, was it not rather a matter of the king can do no wrong.
1981
Times
28 July 14
The Queen [of Holland] has no power but some influence … ‘The Queen can do no wrong. The ministers are responsible.’
rulers and ruled
Queen
when appropriate. Cf. the legal maxim:
rex non potest peccare
, the king can do no wrong; also
c
1538
T. STARKEY
England in Reign of King Henry VIII
(EETS) I. iv. Wyl you make a kyng to have no more powar then one of hys lordys? Hyt ys commynly sayd .. a kyng ys aboue hys lawys.
a1654
Table-talk
(1689) 27
The King can do no wrong, that is no Process [action at law] can be granted against him.
1765
Commentaries on Laws of England
I. vii.
The King can do no wrong …The prerogative of the crown extends not to do any injury: it is created for the benefit of the people, and therefore cannot be exerted to their prejudice.
1888
Beechcroft at Rockstone
II. xxii.
‘So, Aunt Jane is your Pope’. ‘No; she's the King that can do no wrong,’ said Gillian, laughing.
1952
Hour Awaits
191
It was very different with Augustus … We had always expected that … In his case, was it not rather a matter of the king can do no wrong.
1981
Times
28 July 14
The Queen [of Holland] has no power but some influence … ‘The Queen can do no wrong. The ministers are responsible.’
rulers and ruled
A KING'S chaff is worth more than other men's corn
The sense is explained in quot. 1738. For a similar sentiment, see 1612 T. SHELTON tr.
Cervantes' Don Quixote
I. IV. xii. A Kings crumme is more worth then a Lords loafe. The proverb seems to be Scottish in origin.
a
1628
Proverbs in Scots
(1957) 101
The kings calf [chaff] is worth other mennis corne.
1668
Adagia Scotica
33
Kings caff is worth other mens corn.
1738
Gentleman's Mag
. VIII. 474
The King's chaff is worth more than other men's corn. This .. signifies that even the little perquisites, which attend the King's service, are more considerable than standing wages of private persons.
1788
Letter
16 Aug. (1931) I. 245
The old Scots Proverb says well—‘King's caff is better than ither folks' corn’.
1817
Rob Roy
III. vii.
They say .. kings' chaff is better than other folk's corn, but I think that canna be said o' kings' soldiers, if they let themselves be beaten wi' a wheen [few] auld carles.
1957
Times Literary Supplement
13 Sept. 552
A king's chaff is proverbially better than other men's corn.
employers and employees
;
value
Cervantes' Don Quixote
I. IV. xii. A Kings crumme is more worth then a Lords loafe. The proverb seems to be Scottish in origin.
a1628
Proverbs in Scots
(1957) 101
The kings calf [chaff] is worth other mennis corne.
1668
Adagia Scotica
33
Kings caff is worth other mens corn.
1738
Gentleman's Mag
. VIII. 474
The King's chaff is worth more than other men's corn. This .. signifies that even the little perquisites, which attend the King's service, are more considerable than standing wages of private persons.
1788
Letter
16 Aug. (1931) I. 245
The old Scots Proverb says well—‘King's caff is better than ither folks' corn’.
1817
Rob Roy
III. vii.
They say .. kings' chaff is better than other folk's corn, but I think that canna be said o' kings' soldiers, if they let themselves be beaten wi' a wheen [few] auld carles.
1957
Times Literary Supplement
13 Sept. 552
A king's chaff is proverbially better than other men's corn.
employers and employees;
value
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