Great minds think alike
Meaning: Intelligent people often reach the same conclusions.
Origin: The older form was "good wits jump" — clever minds leap to the same conclusion — recorded in the early 17th century. Laurence Sterne's Tristram Shandy (1761) has "great wits jump," and "great minds think alike" replaced it in the 19th century. The skeptical rider "and fools seldom differ" is a later addition.
Equivalents in French, Spanish, Japanese, and German
- French: Les grands esprits se rencontrent (literally: Great minds meet)
- Spanish: Las grandes mentes piensan igual (literally: Great minds think the same)
- Japanese: 偉人の考えは似ている (Ijin no kangae wa nite iru) (literally: The thoughts of great people are similar)
- German: Zwei Dumme, ein Gedanke (literally: Two fools, one thought)
More proverbs about Wisdom
- Cross that bridge when you come to it — Deal with problems only when they arise.
- All roads lead to Rome — There are many ways to reach the same goal.
- You're never too old to learn — Learning is a lifelong process.
- There's no such thing as a free lunch — Everything has a hidden cost.
- Hope for the best, prepare for the worst — Optimism should be balanced with practical preparation.
- Don't make a mountain out of a molehill — Don't exaggerate small problems.