Oh, East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet.
[1892 R. Kipling Barrack-room Ballads 75]
Sledge said ‘Goodnight’ again, but when he was on the stairs he called back: ‘In any case remember one thing, that East is East and West is West. Don't mix your deities.’
[1909 M. Baring Orpheus in Mayfair 271]
East is east and west is west, and it will be a long time before fishermen from the bookends of Canada agree on delicate matters of taste over a plate of oysters.
[1994 English Today Oct. 19/2]
Related to: familiarity; harmony and disharmony; opposites
Bibliography of major proverb collections and works cited from modern editions is available here.
