like will to like

Cf. HOMER ὡς αἰεὶ τὸν ὁμοῖον ἄγει θεὸς ὡς τὸν 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.

a 1400 Legends of Saints (STS) 1.226 In proverbe I haf hard say That lyk to lyk drawis ay.

c 1450 Proverbs of Good Counsel in Book of Precedence (EETS) 70 This proverbe dothe specify, ‘Lyke wyll to lyke in eche company’.

1648 HERRICK Hesperides 378 Like will to like, each Creature loves his kinde.

1822 SCOTT Peveril II. ii. How could I help it? like will to like—the boy would come—the girl would see him.

1855 T. C. HALIBURTON Nature & Human Nature I. xi. Jessie had a repugnance to the union... ‘Jessie..nature, instead of forbiddin’ it approves of it; for like takes to like.’

1922 S. J. WEYMAN Ovington’s Bank xxxi. He’s learned this at your d—d counter, sir! That’s where it is. It’s like to like.

1981 R. BARNARD Mother’s Boys xiv. 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.