The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (323 page)

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LIGHTING never strikes the same place twice

1857
Prisoner of Border
xii.
They did not hit me at all … Lightning never strikes twice in the same place, nor cannon balls either, I presume.
1942
Tinsley's Bones
x.
The Witness: They say that lightning never strikes twice in the same place. Mr Blodgett: It don't because the second time the place ain't there.
1979
Death in Account
x.
His bank had been raided the moment his back had been turned. ‘Well, lighting never strikes the same place twice … I expect we'll be safe enough now.’

misfortune

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LIKE breeds like

1557
Sermons
178
^VWyth a frowarde [evilly disposed] synner, a man shall be naughtye [wicked].. for lyke maketh like.
c
1577
Misogonus
2
^VThe like bredes the like (eche man sayd).
1842
Poems
(1969) 703
Like men, like manners: Like breeds like, they say.
1931
Strange Death of Martin Green
xiv.
Murder is an awfully bad thing for anybody to get away with, even once. Like breeds like.
1969
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

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LIKE will to like

Cf. HOMER
Odyssey
xvii. 218