The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (130 page)
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DISTANCE lends enchantment to the view
1799Pleasure of Hope
I. 3
Why do those cliffs of shadowy tint appear More sweet than all the landscape smiling near?— 'Tis distance lends enchantment to the view, And robes the mountain in its azure hue.
1827
Poems
(1906) 78
What black Mont Blancs arose, Crested with soot and not with snows … I fear the distance did not ‘lend enchantment to the view’.
1901
Captain Jinks
II. 118
‘I wish you'd taike me hout of the second row and put me in the front.’.. ‘You forget the old adage,.. “Distance lends enchantment.”’
1974
Porterhouse Blue
xviii.
As ever with Lady Mary's affections, distance lent enchantment to the view, and .. she was herself the intimate patroness of this idol of the media.
absenceDIVIDE and rule
Government is more easily maintained if factions are set against each other, and not allowed to unite against the ruler. A common maxim (in Latin
divide et impera
, in German
entzwei und gebiete
), it should not (
pace
quot. 1732) be laid at the door of the Italian political philosopher Niccolò Machiavelli (1469–1527), who in fact denounced this principle. Cf.
1588
tr.
M. Hurault's Discourse upon Present State of France
44 It hath been alwaies her [Catherine de Medici's] custome, to set in France, one against an other, that in the meane while shee might rule in these diuisions.
1605
Meditations
I. 109
For a Prince .. is a sure axiome, Diuide and rule.
1732
Poems
III. 805
As Machiavel taught 'em, divide and ye govern.
1907
Spectator
20 Apr. 605
The cynical maxim of ‘Divide and rule’ has never clouded our relations with the daughter-States.
1979
Genesis & Exodus
ii.
Matters concerning the estate were put in the hands of a secretary and a steward who were responsible not to Benson but to the Governors. But ‘divide and rule’ was not in his nature.
power
;
rulers and ruled
divide et impera
, in German
entzwei und gebiete
), it should not (
pace
quot. 1732) be laid at the door of the Italian political philosopher Niccolò Machiavelli (1469–1527), who in fact denounced this principle. Cf.
1588
tr.
M. Hurault's Discourse upon Present State of France
44 It hath been alwaies her [Catherine de Medici's] custome, to set in France, one against an other, that in the meane while shee might rule in these diuisions.
1605Meditations
I. 109
For a Prince .. is a sure axiome, Diuide and rule.
1732
Poems
III. 805
As Machiavel taught 'em, divide and ye govern.
1907
Spectator
20 Apr. 605
The cynical maxim of ‘Divide and rule’ has never clouded our relations with the daughter-States.
1979
Genesis & Exodus
ii.
Matters concerning the estate were put in the hands of a secretary and a steward who were responsible not to Benson but to the Governors. But ‘divide and rule’ was not in his nature.
power;
rulers and ruled
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