Cf. [Homer Odyssey xvii. 218] ὡς αἰɛὶ ṯὸν ὁμοῖον ἄγɛί θɛὸς ὡς ṯὸν ὁμοῖον, the god always brings like to like; [Cicero De Senectute iii. vii.] pares autem vetere proverbio cum paribus facillime congregantur, according to the old proverb equals most easily mix together; early 14th-cent. Fr. lung semblable quiert lautre, one like thing seeks another. Cf. birds of a feather flock together.
In proverbe I haf hard say That lyk to lyk drawis ay.
[a 1400 Legends of Saints (STS) I. 226]
This proverbe dothe specify, ‘Lyke wyll to lyke in eche company’.
[c 1450 Proverbs of Good Counsel in Book of Precedence (EETS) 70]
Like will to like, each Creature loves his kinde.
[1648 Herrick Hesperides 378]
How could I help it? like will to like—the boy would come—the girl would see him.
[1822 Scott Peveril II. ii.]
Jessie had a repugnance to the union. ‥‘Jessie‥nature, instead of forbiddin' it approves of it; for like takes to like.’
[1855 T. C. Haliburton Nature & Human Nature I. xi.]
He's learned this at your d—d counter, sir! That's where it is. It's like to like.
[1922 S. J. Weyman Ovington's Bank xxxi.]
Mrs. Hodsden's connection with his house will be quite plain to you when you meet my husband. Like clings to like, they say. ‥And those two certainly cling.
[1981 R. Barnard Mother's Boys xiv.]
Related to: similarity and dissimilarity
Bibliography of major proverb collections and works cited from modern editions is available here.
