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Various phrases

Posted by ESC on May 09, 2009 at 12:21

In Reply to: Various phrases posted by John White on May 09, 2009 at 07:27:

: I would like to know the origins of the following four often-used sayings or idioms or punch-lines, for which Googling failed to provide origins in spite of thousands of results. Can anyone help me, please?:

: "The Devil always looks after his own"
: (This one has a similar purport to "Only the good die young", which has previously been given an origin here.)

: "In war, Truth is always the first casualty"

: "Lies get halfway around the world before Truth can even get its/his running-shoes on"

: "With friends like him, who needs enemies?"

A lie will go round the world while truth is pulling its boots on. C.H. Spurgeon, Gems from Spurgeon, 1859. Earlier version, Portland (Me.) Gazette, 5 Sept 1820: Falsehood will fly from Maine to Georgia, while truth is pulling her boots on. Still earlier, Jonathan Swift wrote in The Examiner, 9 Nov. 1710: Falsehood flies, and the truth comes limping after it. Page 615.

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