Lightning never strikes twice
Meaning: Rare events are unlikely to happen to the same person twice.
Origin: The saying appears in American writing by the 1850s, as a figure for unlikely coincidences. It is false as physics: lightning follows the easiest path to the ground, so tall structures are hit again and again, and the Empire State Building is struck around 25 times a year.
Equivalents in French, Spanish, and Japanese
- French: La foudre ne frappe jamais deux fois au même endroit (literally: Lightning never strikes twice at the same place)
- Spanish: Un rayo no cae dos veces en el mismo lugar (literally: A lightning bolt doesn't strike twice in the same place)
- Japanese: 同じ場所に二度雷は落ちない (Onaji basho ni nido kaminari wa ochinai) (literally: Lightning doesn't fall twice in the same place)
More proverbs about Human Nature
- To each their own — Everyone has their own preferences and choices.
- You can't teach an old dog new tricks — It's difficult to change established habits.
- Hunger is the best sauce — Food tastes better when you're truly hungry.
- The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world — Mothers have profound influence on society.
- No news is good news — The absence of bad news is itself good news.
- Every man for himself — In crisis, everyone must look after their own interests.
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