All roads lead to Rome

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"All roads lead to Rome" is a proverb [a] which means the same outcome can be reached by many ways. [2] [3] Its was first written in Medieval Latin in 1175 by Alain de Lille, and was first written in English in 1391 by Geoffrey Chaucer. The proverb references the fact that in the Roman Empire, all major roads led to Rome.

Contents

Origin

Alain de Lille, the proverb: "all roads lead to Rome," originates from him. Alanus de Insulis (Alain de Lille). Woodcut. Wellcome V0000079.jpg
Alain de Lille, the proverb: "all roads lead to Rome," originates from him.

The origin comes from the Medieval Latin proverb: "Mille viae ducunt homines per saecula Romam," the proverb translated into Modern English being: "A thousand roads lead men forever to Rome." The proverb was written in 1175 by Alain de Lille in the Liber Parabolarum (English: Book of Proverbs). [4] [5]

It was first written in English on A Treatise on the Astrolabe in 1391 by Geoffrey Chaucer. The proverb, written in Middle English, being: "Right as diverse pathes leden diverse folk the righte way to Rome." [6] [7]

The proverb is referencing the fact all major roads in the Roman Empire led to the Milliarium Aureum , which is a monument in Rome. [8] [9]

[10]

Synonyms

[11]

Antonyms

[12]

References

  1. ↑ Lexicography: Critical Concepts (2003) R. R. K. Hartmann, Mick R K Smith, ISBN   0-415-25365-9, p. 303 Retrieved November 23, 2025
  2. ↑ Cambridge Dictionary, "all roads lead to rome definition | Cambridge English Dictionary" Retrieved November 13, 2025.
  3. ↑ The Free Dictionary, "All Roads Lead to Rome - Idioms by The Free Dictionary" Retrieved November 13, 2025.
  4. ↑ Alanus ab Insulis (Alain de Lille), Boston Public Library (1493), Liber Parabolarum Retrieved November 14, 2025
  5. ↑ Samuel Singer; Kuratorium Singer (1995), Walter de Gruyter, editor, Thesaurus Proverbiorum Medii Aevi: Lexikon der Sprichwörter des Romanisch-germanischen Mittelalters Retrieved November 26, 2025
  6. ↑ Linda Flavell; Roger Flavell (1993), Dictionary of Proverbs and their Origins Retrieved November 14, 2025
  7. ↑ Gregory Y. Titelman (1996), Random House Dictionary of Popular Proverbs and Sayings, page 8. Retrieved November 26, 2025
  8. ↑ Schaaf, P. (1867/1886), Ante-nicene fathers: The Apostolic fathers, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, electronic reprint edition, volume 1, Grand Rapids, MI, USA: CCEL: Roberts, A. & Donaldson, J, Eds., page 1. Retrieved November 14, 2025
  9. ↑ Cassius Dio 54.8.4; Plutarch, Galba 24.7; Pliny, Naturalis Historia 3.66; Tacitus, Historiae 1.27; Suetonius, Otho 6.2. Retrieved November 14, 2025
  10. ↑ Charles Leavitt, September 14, 2011, "All Roads Lead to Rome: New acquisitions relating to the Eternal City | News - Center for Italian Studies - University of Notre Dame" Retrieved November 13, 2025
  11. ↑ Power Thesaurus, "ALL ROADS LEAD TO ROME Synonyms: 18 Similar Phrases" Retrieved November 26, 2025
  12. ↑ Power Thesaurus, "ALL ROADS LEAD TO ROME Antonyms: 7 Opposite Phrases" Retrieved November 26, 2025

Notes

  1. ↑ Although some of the sources refer to it as an idiom, an idiom has figurative language in its components, while a proverb’s figurative meaning is an extension of its literal meaning. The proverb references the fact that in the Roman Empire, all major roads led to Rome, so therefore by definition, all roads lead to Rome is a proverb. Although some experts may refer to proverbs as a type of idiom, this is an explanation why the article uses the word: "proverb," instead of the word: "idiom." [1]
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