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    Where does the phrase "none so blind as those who cannot see" come from?

    Question #41522. Asked by DogRL. (Nov 24 03 6:34 AM)


    Senior Moments

    		I think the actual phrase is 'who will not see' which changes the meaning considerably

    "Random House Dictionary of Popular Proverbs and Sayings" by Gregory Y. Titelman (Random House, New York, 1996). Mr. Titelman agrees that this saying has its roots in the Bible, specifically Jer. 5:21 (King James version): "Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not."

    "There are none so blind as those who will not see. The most deluded people are those who choose to ignore what they already know. The proverb has been traced back in English to 1546 (John Heywood), and resembles the Biblical verse quoted (above). In 1738, it was used by Jonathan Swift in his 'Polite Conversation,' and is first attested in the United States in the 1713 'Works of Thomas Chalkley'..." http://phrases.shu.ac.uk/bulletin_board/5/messages/836.html

    Nov 24 03, 6:39 AM
    DogRL

    		Yes, that is a considerable difference, thanks SM.

    Nov 24 03, 7:06 AM

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