[lit-ideas] "Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me."

 
 
In a message dated 6/28/2004 11:11:14 PM Eastern Standard Time,  
JulieReneB@xxxxxxx writes:
I would  have 
expected it to have originated here, probably somewhere in the south  because 
it does 
have that flavour. 



---- It would still be interesting to see if it's listed in some  
encyclopaedia or dictionary of proverbs. The idea of 'fool' and 'shame' it  
incorporates 
don't seem too Oriental to me, more like French. My guess is that's  an 
Anglo-Norman Latin proverb, introduced by the Plantagenets, and then, via the  
Pilgrims, in New England (Bush possibly heard it when in New Haven).
 
I would even venture that the earliest English record would have it  as:
 
     "Fool me once, shame on _thee_; fool me twice,  shame on mee."
 
which rhynes.
 
Cheers,
 
JL


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