phrases, sayings, idioms and expressions at

Samuel Butler

Posted by Bruce Kahl on March 28, 2001

In Reply to: Spare the rod posted by natura1ist on March 28, 2001

: I have read that the first time the exact phrase "spare the rod and spoil the child" was used was in a poem where the lines were:
: "Love is a boy, by poets styl'd,
: Then spare the rod and spoil the child"
: The problem is I can't place the poem either to title or author.

Samuel Butler
(1612-1680) born on Feb 14 English poet, satirist, painter, philosopher. He was famous for his mock epic "Hudibras," ridiculing the Puritans.

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