It is a wise child that knows his own father
Meaning: A version, “it is a wise father that knows his own child” (spelling modernized), is used in William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice, and the modern version, in a translation of the Odyssey by Samuel Butler (see quotations), which likely popularized the proverb.
Origin: The thought goes back to Homer's Odyssey, where Telemachus says that no one can be sure of his own father. Shakespeare turns it around in The Merchant of Venice, where Launcelot Gobbo jokes that "it is a wise father that knows his own child."
Equivalents in Spanish
- Spanish: El hijo sabe que conoce á su padre (literally: It is a wise son that knows his own father)
More proverbs about Wisdom
- It's a long road that has no turning — The current situation is bound to change eventually.
- It's easier to ask forgiveness than to get permission — Acting boldly without approval often succeeds, while seeking permission invites rejection…
- I want doesn't get — Wanting alone accomplishes nothing; action and effort are required to achieve your desire…
- Knee-high by the Fourth of July — Corn must reach substantial height by mid-summer to mature fully before autumn frost arri…
- Let George do it — Shirking responsibility by assuming someone else will handle the task instead.
- Loss and gain are brothers twain — Misfortune and prosperity are inseparable companions in life's journey, each inevitably f…
From our idioms
- Tong kosong nyaring bunyinya — Those who know the least often talk the most.
- Besar pasak daripada tiang — To spend more than you earn.
- Buah tangan — A souvenir or gift brought back for others from a trip.