There is no foundation to the ascription of Chinese origin in quot. 1927.
One look is worth a thousand words.
[1921 Printers' Ink 8 Dec. 96]
One picture is worth ten thousand words.
[1927 Ibid. 10 Mar. 114 Chinese proverb,]
‘One picture speaks louder than ten thousand words.’ Mr. Bovey repeated the adage this morning when‥he handed me my finished portrait.
[1954 R. Haydn Journal of Edwin Carp 90]
A picture is worth a thousand words.
[1979 Scientific American Oct. 118]
[In a photograph] the mask is being worn with the bottom strap cut off or dangling. A picture is worth a thousand words, but here are eight to redress the balance: ‘If there's only one strap, it's probably crap.’
[2001 New Scientist 17 Nov. 59]
Related to: example, good and bad; illustration
Bibliography of major proverb collections and works cited from modern editions is available here.
