The English playwright, John Heywood, recorded the saying as a proverb in 1546.
"A man may well bryng a horse to the water, But he can not make him
drinke without he will."
http://www.bartleby.com/100/115.63.html
"YOU CAN LEAD A HORSE TO WATER, BUT YOU CAN'T MAKE HIM DRINK -
"Although you may be able to show a person what is best, according to
this proverb, you cannot force him to it - even though it is in his
interest. An early version of the saying, 'A man maie well bring a
horse to the water. But he cannot make him drinke without he will,'
was rendered in John Heywood's 'A Dialogue Conteinyng the Nomber in
Effect of All the Prouerbes in the Englishe Tongue (1546).The closest
wording to the modern version appeared some years later in Frederick
Marryat's 'The King's Own' (1830) as 'You may take a horse to the
water, but you can't make him drink.'." From "Wise Words and Wives'
Tales: The Origins, Meanings and Time-Honored Wisdom of Proverbs and
Folk Sayings Olde and New" by Stuart Flexner and Doris Flexner (Avon
Books, New York, 1993)."
http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/19/messages/1309.html
Links:
John Heyward - Quotations
http://www.bartleby.com/100/115.html
Google Groups : alt.english.usage | "Horse to Water"
http://groups-beta.google.com/group/alt.english.usage/browse_thread/thread/2ee6442830f884eb/82e0db2a2ee7cbd0
Google Groups : alt.quotations | "You can lead a horse to water, but
you can't make hin drink"
http://groups-beta.google.com/group/alt.quotations/browse_thread/thread/63c3deebb094c883/0b85eafed7191571
Hope you find this information useful. |
