Read The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs Online
Authors: John Andrew Simpson,
The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (390 page)
BOOK: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs
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NECESSITY is the mother of invention
Cf.
1519
W. HORMAN
Vulgaria
52 Nede taught hym wytte.
Necessitas ingenium dedit
.
1545
Toxophilus
II
. 18
V
Necessitie, the inuentor of all goodnesse (as all authours in a maner, doo saye) .. inuented a shaft heed.
1608
Tragedy of Byron
IV
. i.
The great Mother, Of all productions (graue Necessity).
1658
Northern Memoirs
(1694) 44
Art imitates Nature, and Necessity is the Mother of Invention.
1726
Gulliver's Travels
IV
. x.
I soaled my Shoes with wood, which I cut from a Tree …No man could more verify the Truth .. That, Necessity is the Mother of Invention.
1861
Cloister & Hearth
II. vi.
‘But, dame, I found language too poor to paint him. I was fain to invent. You know Necessity is the mother of—.’ ‘Ay! ay, that is old enough, o' conscience’.
1974
Other Paths to Glory
I
. vi.
Necessity has been once more the mother of invention. I have invented Captain Lefevre.
1997
Washington Post Washington Business
30 June 15
They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but in the case of personal computer imitation, the more appropriate adage may be ‘necessity is the mother of invention.’
necessity
1519
W. HORMAN
Vulgaria
52 Nede taught hym wytte.
Necessitas ingenium dedit
.
1545Toxophilus
II
. 18
V
Necessitie, the inuentor of all goodnesse (as all authours in a maner, doo saye) .. inuented a shaft heed.
1608
Tragedy of Byron
IV
. i.
The great Mother, Of all productions (graue Necessity).
1658
Northern Memoirs
(1694) 44
Art imitates Nature, and Necessity is the Mother of Invention.
1726
Gulliver's Travels
IV
. x.
I soaled my Shoes with wood, which I cut from a Tree …No man could more verify the Truth .. That, Necessity is the Mother of Invention.
1861
Cloister & Hearth
II. vi.
‘But, dame, I found language too poor to paint him. I was fain to invent. You know Necessity is the mother of—.’ ‘Ay! ay, that is old enough, o' conscience’.
1974
Other Paths to Glory
I
. vi.
Necessity has been once more the mother of invention. I have invented Captain Lefevre.
1997
Washington Post Washington Business
30 June 15
They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but in the case of personal computer imitation, the more appropriate adage may be ‘necessity is the mother of invention.’
necessity
NECESSITY knows no law
Cf. L.
necessitas non habet legem
, necessity has no law.
1377
Piers Plowman
B. xx. 10
Nede ne hath no lawe, ne neure shal falle in dette.
c
1530
Answer to More
B1
Two things are without law, God and necessity.
a
1555
Lamentation of Miserable Estate
of Church (1556) D4
The latter reason .. includeth a necessitie which after the common saying hathe no law.
1680
Kind Keeper
III
. ii.
Necessity has no Law; I must be patient.
1776
Letter
23 Feb. in
Life of Peter Van Schaack
(1842) 54
Troops .. quarter themselves in any houses they find shut up. Necessity knows no law.
1864
Trevlyn Hold
II. xiv.
Necessity has no law, and he was obliged to rise.
1939
Gale Warning
VI.
‘“Don't speak to the man at the wheel” is a very good rule.’ ‘So’, said I, ‘is “Necessity knows no law.”’
1977
Kingdoms of Elfin
107
Necessity knows no law. I must admit it. From time to time, I flew.
necessity
necessitas non habet legem
, necessity has no law.
1377Piers Plowman
B. xx. 10
Nede ne hath no lawe, ne neure shal falle in dette.
c
1530
Answer to More
B1
Two things are without law, God and necessity.
a
1555
Lamentation of Miserable Estate
of Church (1556) D4
The latter reason .. includeth a necessitie which after the common saying hathe no law.
1680
Kind Keeper
III
. ii.
Necessity has no Law; I must be patient.
1776
Letter
23 Feb. in
Life of Peter Van Schaack
(1842) 54
Troops .. quarter themselves in any houses they find shut up. Necessity knows no law.
1864
Trevlyn Hold
II. xiv.
Necessity has no law, and he was obliged to rise.
1939
Gale Warning
VI.
‘“Don't speak to the man at the wheel” is a very good rule.’ ‘So’, said I, ‘is “Necessity knows no law.”’
1977
Kingdoms of Elfin
107
Necessity knows no law. I must admit it. From time to time, I flew.
necessityneed
NEEDS must when the Devil drives
Needs must
is used elliptically for ‘one needs must (i.e. must of necessity) go’.
c
1450
Assembly of Gods
(EETS) l. 21
Hit ys oft seyde by hem that yet lyues He must nedys go that the deuell dryues.
1602
All's Well that ends Well
I
. iii. 29
He must needs go that the devil drives.
1835
Doctor
III. lxxxiii.
Needs must go when the Devil drives.
1843
Handley Cross
III.xi.
Needs must when the devil drives!.. But I'd rather do any thing than injure that poor blue-eyed beauty.
1978
Throwback
iii.
I don't want to marry the damned woman either, but needs must when the devil drives.
1997
Hard Bargain
xiv. 127
I would .. put Long John Silver in his cage. He hates to spend the whole day in his cage. Poor baby. Oh well, he needs must go whom the devil drives.
necessity
is used elliptically for ‘one needs must (i.e. must of necessity) go’.
c1450
Assembly of Gods
(EETS) l. 21
Hit ys oft seyde by hem that yet lyues He must nedys go that the deuell dryues.
1602
All's Well that ends Well
I
. iii. 29
He must needs go that the devil drives.
1835
Doctor
III. lxxxiii.
Needs must go when the Devil drives.
1843
Handley Cross
III.xi.
Needs must when the devil drives!.. But I'd rather do any thing than injure that poor blue-eyed beauty.
1978
Throwback
iii.
I don't want to marry the damned woman either, but needs must when the devil drives.
1997
Hard Bargain
xiv. 127
I would .. put Long John Silver in his cage. He hates to spend the whole day in his cage. Poor baby. Oh well, he needs must go whom the devil drives.
necessity
BOOK: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs
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