phrases, sayings, idioms and expressions at

Rome wasn't built in a day

Posted by ESC on January 27, 2003

In Reply to: Rome wasn't built in a day posted by Debra on January 27, 2003

: Does ne body know who wrote "Rome Wasn't Built In A Day" If you do please email me @ cuchik@aol.com or im me cuchik is my aim name. This is important its for a school project.
:
: Thank You,
: cuchik

ROME WASN'T BUILT IN A DAY -- "Invoked when a task is too big to be accomplished quickly, this familiar saying was originally a French proverb, 'Rome was not made all in one day,' which was recorded in 'Li Proverbe au Vilain' (c. 1190). The English version did not appear until three centuries later, when it was included first in Richard Taverner's translation of 'Erasmus' Adages' as 'Rome was not buylt in one day,' and then a year later in John Heywood's 'A Dialogue Conteinyng the Nomber in Effect of all the Prouerbes in the Englishe Tongue' as 'Rome was not bylt on a daie (quoth he) & yet stood Tyll it was fynysht.' 'Rome was not built.' was subsequently quoted or adapted by." many others. From Wise Words and Wives' Tales: The Origins, Meanings and Time-Honored Wisdom of Proverbs and Folk Sayings Olde and New; by Stuart Flexner and Doris Flexner (Avon Books, New York, 1993). Page 158.

© 1997 – 2024 Phrases.org.uk. All rights reserved.