"The Habit Does Not Make The Monk": The Expression of Grandmother of the Day.
You undoubtedly know the expression of grandmother "the dress does not make the monk"?
It is an ancient expression that appears in the 13th century.
This proverb simply means thatDo not be fooled by appearances.
There is on the one hand the image that we send back and on the other hand, the person that we really are.
And between the two, there is sometimes a little difference ;-)
But where does this expression so common today come from? And why do we speak of a monk? Explanations:
Originally
The origin of this popular proverb is mysterious.
For some historians, it comes from the Greek philosopher Plutarch.
This one would have written a sentence which closely resembles our famous expression: "barba non facit philosophum".
This expression could be translated as "the beard does not make the monk".
But for other historians, the explanation is different. And it was not until the 13th century to know its origin.
Francesco Grimaldi, ancestor of the current princely family of Monaco, wanted to conquer the fortress of the Rock of Monaco, then under the domination of Genoa.
To seize it, Grimaldi's men would have disguised themselves as monks.
They would then have requested board and lodging for the night in order to enter the fortress and conquer it.
Hence the expression, "The habit does not make the monk"!
Today
Nowadays, this expression of grandmother is still widely used.
It refers as much to being and to appearing as to wealth and poverty.
Besides, do you know what they say?
Dressing rich when you are poor is coquetry, but dressing poor when you are rich is a deception!
The share of wisdom
What if, in the end, the clothes fit the monk well?
Indeed, a person can show himself as he wants to appear because ultimately, it is a part of his personality ;-)
If you like grandmother expressions, we recommend this book on the origin and meaning of grandmother expressions.
Your turn...
And you, what do you think of this grandmother expression? Tell us in the comments if you still use it today. We can't wait to hear from you!
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Also to discover:
"All That Glitters Is Not Gold": Grandmother's Expression of the Day.
30 Expressions From Another Time That Even Our Grandmothers No Longer Use.
