ProverbMoralityDutch origin1622

Live and let live

Meaning: Be tolerant of others' choices and lifestyles.

Example: “My neighbors and I disagree about politics, but we live and let live.”

Origin: A Dutch proverb, leven en laten leven. The English merchant Gerard de Malynes quoted it in his commercial handbook Lex Mercatoria (1622), and it soon became common English advice to tolerate other people's ways.

Equivalents in French, Spanish, Japanese, German, Italian, and Dutch

  • French: Vivre et laisser vivre (literally: Live and let live)
  • Spanish: Vivir y dejar vivir (literally: Live and let live)
  • Japanese: 人は人、我は我 (Hito wa hito, ware wa ware) (literally: Others are others, I am I)
  • German: Leben und leben lassen (literally: Live and let live)
  • Italian: Vivi, e lascia vivere (literally: Live and let live)
  • Dutch: Men moet leven en laten leven (literally: One must live and let live)

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