ProverbChallengeEnglish origin14th c.

Like will to like.

Meaning: People naturally gravitate toward and trust those who share their values, interests, or circumstances.

Origin: Recorded in English from the late 14th century. The idea is ancient: Homer's Odyssey says the god always brings like to like, and Cicero quoted the old proverb that equals most easily mix together.

Equivalents in French, Spanish, Japanese, German, Italian, and 6 more languages

  • French: Qui se ressemble s’assemble (literally: Like will to like)
  • Spanish: Cada oveja con su pareja (literally: Each sheep with its own mate)
  • Japanese: 類は友を呼ぶ (Rui wa tomo o yobu) (literally: Like kind calls forth friends)
  • German: Gleich und gleich gesellt sich gern (literally: Like and like gladly keep company)
  • Italian: Simili con simili vanno (literally: Like will to like)
  • 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)

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