A dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

LIKE breeds like
Traits in a person’s character are reinforced by associating with similar people: e.g. PSALMS xviii. 25-6 (BCP) With the holy thou shalt be holy: and with a perfect man thou shalt be perfect. With the clean thou shalt be clean: and with the froward thou shalt learn frowardness.

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  1557 R. EDGEWORTH Sermons 178V Wyth a frowarde [evilly disposed] synner, a man shall be naughtye [wicked] . . for lyke maketh like. c 1577 Misogonus 2^V The like bredes the like (eche man sayd). 1842 TENNYSON Poems (1969) 703 Like men, like manners: Like breeds like, they say. 1931 ‘D. FROME’ Strange Death of Martin Green xiv. Murder is an awfully bad thing for anybody to get away with, even once. Like breeds like. 1969 A. P. HANNUM Look back with Love xxv. The Richard saga seemed.. summed up in her grandfather’s words.. ‘Like begets like in spite of the Devil.’ ■similarity and dissimilarity
  

LIKE will to like
Cf. HOMER ' ^v :> •••■=••••• 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.

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  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. "similarity and dissimilarity
  

like see also (adjective) like FATHER, like son; like MASTER, like man; like MOTHER, like daughter; like PEOPLE, like priest; (verb) if you don’t like the HEAT, get out of the kitchen.