It takes all sorts to make a world
In the world there must bee of all sorts.
[1620 T. Shelton tr. Cervantes' Don Quixote ii. vi.]
Some Lady surely might be found‥in whose fidelity you might repose. The World, says Locke, has people of all sorts.
[1767 S. Johnson Letter 17 Nov. (1952) I. 194]
Click can't get off this time?‥ Well, it takes all sorts to make a world.
[1844 D. W. Jerrold Story of Feather xxviii.]
‘My father's a banker during the week and a country gent at week-ends. Takes all sorts, you know.’ ‘Takes all sorts?’ ‘To make a world.’
[1975 J. I. M. Stewart Young Pattullo iii.]
There is no nightlife. ‥I suppose that what we have here is the working out of the adage that it takes all kinds to make a world.
[1993 Bill Richardson Bachelor Brothers' Bed & Breakfast (1997) 74]
Related to: idiosyncrasy; tolerance; variety
Bibliography of major proverb collections and works cited from modern editions is available here.





