ProverbHuman Nature
Polish origin
Polish originCiągnie swój do swego
Meaning: People naturally gravitate toward and associate with those similar to themselves.
Literally: One's own draws to one's own
Example: “Wszyscy wędkarze siedzą przy jednym stole; ciągnie swój do swego.” — All the anglers sit at one table; birds of a feather flock together.
Equivalents in English, French, Spanish, Japanese, German, and 7 more languages
English: Birds of a feather flock together
French: Qui se ressemble s'assemble (literally: Those who resemble each other gather together)
Spanish: Dios los cría y ellos se juntan (literally: God raises them and they come together)
Japanese: 類は友を呼ぶ (Rui wa tomo o yobu) (literally: Like calls to like)
German: Gleich und gleich gesellt sich gern (literally: Like and like gladly keep company)
Italian: Chi si somiglia si piglia (literally: Those who are alike take to each other)
Portuguese: Cada qual com o seu igual (literally: Each one with his equal)
Dutch: Soort zoekt soort (literally: Kind seeks kind)
Russian: Рыбак рыбака видит издалека (Rybak rybaka vidit izdaleka) (literally: A fisherman spots a fisherman from afar)
Chinese: 物以类聚 (Wù yǐ lèi jù) (literally: Things gather by kind)
Korean: 가재는 게 편 (Gajaeneun ge pyeon) (literally: The crayfish sides with the crab)
Arabic: الطيور على أشكالها تقع (Aṭ-ṭuyūr ʿalā ashkālihā taqaʿ) (literally: Birds land with their own kind)
Origin: Swój is one's own kind, and the proverb says that like is drawn to like: people seek out those who share their background, habits or tastes. It is also found in the order swój do swego ciągnie. English pictures the same thing with birds of a feather flocking together. No particular story or first use is documented.
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