Let's legislate it then

Posted by Bob on November 11, 2002

In Reply to: Archived discussion posted by R. Berg on November 11, 2002

: : : : Could someone please tell me the origin (author) of the phrase, "There' s none so blind as those who won't see. ".
: : : : Sincerely,
: : : : Bede Cleary

: : : Jonathan Swift

: : Is the wording correct? I can't find the quote on the usual sources. I seem to remember it as "There's none so blind as he who will not see." which makes a tidy line of iambic pentameter. "... won't see" sounds clunky at the end. (That doesn't mean it isn't correct, of course....)

: The archives have "There are none so blind as those who will not see": www.phrases.org.uk bulletin_board 5 messages 1615.html (link below).

The sources have a number of slight variations, so let's bless "There's none so blind as those who will not see," for its metrical felicity. Then next year, put it in a Googlefight, and see how effective we've been ....