# Seeking the source of a literary quotation

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-the-source-of-a-literary-quotation/996868>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Tags:** books-writing-myths\
**Created:** [January 30, 2024, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-the-source-of-a-literary-quotation/996868 "2024-01-30T15:40:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![PapaD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7c8e57/32.png) [@PapaD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapaD)\
**Post date:** [January 30, 2024, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-the-source-of-a-literary-quotation/996868/1 "2024-01-30T15:40:13Z")

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I once read something to the effect, “A man may fool his wife or his mistress, but a daughter is a different matter.” I have searched in vain for the literary source of this quote, which may have been an English translation from Russian or German. Can any of you clever folks help me out?