The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (346 page)
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Whatever MAN has done, man may do
There is a similar idea behind
1723
S. CRANSTON in G. S. Kimball
Correspondence of Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
(1902) I.9 But as the Proverb is what hath been may be againe.
1863
Hard Cash
II. xiv.
‘Dark Deeds are written in an unknown tongue called ‘Lawyerish’ …; pick it out if you can.’ ‘Whatever man has done man may do,’ said Dr. Sampson stoutly.
1910
Reginald in Russia
14
I fell in love .. with the local doctor's wife… On looking back at past events it seems to me that she must have been distinctly ordinary, but I suppose the doctor had fallen in love with her once, and what man has done man can do.
possibility and impossibility
1723
S. CRANSTON in G. S. Kimball
Correspondence of Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
(1902) I.9 But as the Proverb is what hath been may be againe.
1863Hard Cash
II. xiv.
‘Dark Deeds are written in an unknown tongue called ‘Lawyerish’ …; pick it out if you can.’ ‘Whatever man has done man may do,’ said Dr. Sampson stoutly.
1910
Reginald in Russia
14
I fell in love .. with the local doctor's wife… On looking back at past events it seems to me that she must have been distinctly ordinary, but I suppose the doctor had fallen in love with her once, and what man has done man can do.
possibility and impossibility
A MAN is as old as he feels, and a woman as old as she looks
Both parts of the proverb are sometimes used on their own (see also quot. 1930).
1871
Thames Journal
27 Aug. (1975) 114
She is always making me out so much older than I am and that's not fair, for a man is only as old as he
feels
and a woman is only as old as she
looks
.
1891
News from Nowhere
iii.
‘How old am I, do you think?’ ‘Well,’ quoth I, ‘I have always been told that a woman is as old as she looks’.
1907
Illustrated London News
25 May 794
The adage that a man is as old as he feels, and a woman as old as she looks, may be said to contain much inherent truth.
1930
Brief Candles
262
He's always saying he's so old, which is all nonsense, because you're only as old as you feel.
1981
Words on Air
67
Two ways of looking at old age. .. ‘Be your age!’ is the first, ‘A man is as old as he feels’ is the second.
men and women
;
old age
1871Thames Journal
27 Aug. (1975) 114
She is always making me out so much older than I am and that's not fair, for a man is only as old as he
feels
and a woman is only as old as she
looks
.
1891
News from Nowhere
iii.
‘How old am I, do you think?’ ‘Well,’ quoth I, ‘I have always been told that a woman is as old as she looks’.
1907
Illustrated London News
25 May 794
The adage that a man is as old as he feels, and a woman as old as she looks, may be said to contain much inherent truth.
1930
Brief Candles
262
He's always saying he's so old, which is all nonsense, because you're only as old as you feel.
1981
Words on Air
67
Two ways of looking at old age. .. ‘Be your age!’ is the first, ‘A man is as old as he feels’ is the second.
men and women;
old age
MAN is the measure of all things
Cf. PROTAGORAS in Plato
Cratylus
vi.
µ
µ
Cratylus
vi.
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