signed, Poor Richard Lacks-The-Knack
All I see when I Google is “author unknown.” Franklin did use it in Poor Richard’s, but it probably long antedates him.
Does the OED have a cite?
According to my Oxford Dictionary of Quotations, it can be found as early as 15th century French. So, not Franklin.
I meant ODQ, not OED. Thanks, sam. So the saying is originally French.
NOt necessarily. Just first written appearance.
George Herbert: *Jacula Prudentum * (1651)
Evans, Bergan, Dictionary of Quotations, Delacorte Press, New York, 1968, p.475.
I’m not sure what point you’re trying to make. Surely 1651 is much later than the 15th century so this can’t be the origin. Is this the first appearance in English? Are you trying to scold Evans for poor scholarship? Why the post?
My guess is that Ignatz is citing the first *written English *occurrence. Have pity on him; if you were a mouse who’d been hit with bricks by a Krazy Kat for 60 years running, you’d be less than coherent too! 