Cleanliness is next to godliness
Meaning: Being clean is a virtue akin to being pious.
Origin: The English wording was made famous by John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, whose sermon "On Dress" says that "cleanliness is, indeed, next to godliness" — in quotation marks, as a saying already known. A related idea appears in Francis Bacon's The Advancement of Learning (1605), which says that cleanness of body was always thought to come from reverence toward God.
Equivalents in French, Spanish, and Japanese
- French: La propreté est la seconde vertu (literally: Cleanliness is the second virtue)
- Spanish: La limpieza es casi la santidad (literally: Cleanliness is almost holiness)
- Japanese: 清潔は美徳なり (Seiketsu wa bitoku nari) (literally: Cleanliness is a virtue)
More proverbs about Morality
- Pride comes before a fall — Arrogance often precedes failure.
- The wheels of justice turn slowly — Justice takes time but eventually arrives.
- The ends justify the means — A good outcome excuses questionable methods.
- Charity begins at home — Take care of your own family before helping others.
- Don't look a gift horse in the mouth — Don't question the value of a gift.
- If the shoe fits, wear it — Accept criticism that accurately applies to you.
From our compliments & insults
- Du hast Köpfchen — You're sharp and clever — you use your brain well.
- Du bist klasse — You're brilliant — excellent, impressive, top-notch.
- 気が利く (ki ga kiku) — You're perceptive and considerately thoughtful — you notice what people need before they…