this post was submitted on 10 May 2025
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[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Warning: lighthearted yammering about etymology ahead 🤓

The earliest instance of the proverb in its present form seems be from 1898:- "Curious how great minds think alike. My pupil wrote me the same explanation about his non-appearance." [1898 C. G. Robertson Voces Academicae]

The eraliest version of it at all seems to be from 1618 when D. Belchier wrote "Though he made that verse, Those words were made before. Good wits doe jumpe." [1618 D. Belchier Hans Beer-Pot ] ( The word jump used in the sense of ‘agree completely’ or ‘coincide’ is now archaic.)

https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/295406/what-is-the-origin-of-the-phrase-great-minds-think-alike

A few years back a list of "real quotes that means something different than people think they do" went around. That contained the "fools seldom differ" line and it seems to have taken off from there. I'm sure it was used earlier, but didn't find an origin.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 13 hours ago

I wonder if "regardless and irregardless" was in there 🤔