An (the) iron hand (fist) in a (the) velvet glove

Posted by David FG on November 30, 2004

In Reply to: An (the) iron hand (fist) in a (the) velvet glove posted by Lee on November 30, 2004

: Where does this expression originally come from ?

: [Dead link removed - ed]

Not sure about the original origin (if you will forgive the phrase) but I have always believed it came from the Latin 'Suaviter in modo, fortiter in re', which means (with a certain freedom of translation) something similar.

DFG

• An (the) iron hand (fist) in a (the) velvet glove ESC 01/December/04
  • An (the) iron hand (fist) in a (the) velvet glove Lee 01/December/04
    • Speak softly.............. Ward 05/December/04