A cat may look at a king
Meaning: Even the humblest creature possesses the right to observe or question those of highest station.
Origin: English proverb. The French equivalent swaps the pair for a dog and a bishop: church dignitaries drew the same stares as princes, and passers-by were expected to lower their eyes — but a dog, lower still and unable to grasp why any of it mattered, looked anyway. If the humblest creature present may look without giving offense, the reasoning goes, so may anyone. Why either language settled on its particular animal and dignitary is unexplained, though the lexicographer Pierre Enckell traced the French pair back to Béroalde de Verville, who in 1610 put a dog, a goat, a minister and a bishop into a single startled line.
Equivalents in French
- French: un chien regarde bien un évêque (literally: A dog may well look at a bishop)
More proverbs about Wisdom
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- A golden key can open any door — Wealth and privilege grant access to opportunities otherwise unavailable to ordinary peop…
- All cats are gray at night — When darkness obscures differences, all things appear equal or indistinguishable.
- A miss is as good as a mile — Whether you fail narrowly or dramatically, the result remains identical—you've still miss…
- A nod is as good as a wink — Can be understood without further explanation.
- A stick in a bundle cannot be broken — Unity provides strength; individual elements easily fractured become resilient when bound…
From our compliments & insults
- Che spettacolo! — You look absolutely stunning — a spontaneous burst of admiration for someone's appearance.
- Du bist ein Goldstück — You're a real gem — priceless, irreplaceable, and deeply appreciated.
- Du hast ein Händchen dafür — You have a real knack — a natural gift that makes difficult things look easy.