A dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

What MANCHESTER says today, the rest of England says tomorrow
The proverb occurs in a variety of forms. Quot. 1902 sets it in its historical context: the Corn Law, restricting the importation of foreign corn, was abolished in 1846, and Manchester (formerly part of Lancashire), considered the home of free trade, was in the forefront of the campaign against restrictive legislation.

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  1898 R. KIPLING Day’s Work 51 What the horses o’ Kansas think to-day, the horses of America will think to-morrow; an’ I tell you that when the horses of America rise in their might, the day o’ the Oppressor is ended. 1902 V. S. LEAN Collectanea 1.116 What Lancashire thinks to-day all England will think to-morrow. This was in the days of the Anti-Corn-Law League. Since then the initiative in political movements proceeds from Birmingham. 1944 C. MILBURN Journal 24 Aug. in Diaries (1979) xiii. Manchester rang its bells yesterday—a day before St. Paul’s.. thus justifying its words, so often used: ‘What Manchester says today, the rest of England says tomorrow!’ 1980 Listener 6 Mar. 300 What Manchester does today—. . is the old boast that ‘What Manchester does today London thinks tomorrow.’ ■imitation; opinions; public opinion
  

Manchester see also YORKSHIRE born and Yorkshire bred, strong in the arm and weak in the head.
MANNERS maketh man
William of Wykeham (1324-1404), bishop of Winchester and chancellor of England, was the founder of Winchester College and New College, Oxford (see also quot. a 1661).

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  c 1350 Douce MS 52 no. 77 Maner makys man. c 1450 in Archiv (1931) CLIX. 88 Maners and clothying makes man. 1509 A. BARCLAY Ship of Fools 118 An old prouerbe.. Sayth that good lyfe and maners makyth man. a 1661 T. FULLER Worthies (Hants.) 3 Manners makes a man, Quoth William Wickham. This generally was his Motto, inscribed frequently on the places of his Founding. 1721 J. KELLY Scottish Proverbs 246 Meat feeds, Cloth cleeds, but Manners makes the Man. ..Good Meat, and fine Cloaths, without good Breeding, are but poor Recommendations. 1824 BYRON Don Juan xv. xviii. The difference is, that in days of old Men made the manners; manners now make men. 1983 R. BARNARD Case of Missing Bronte vi. Gracious little twit. The idea that manners makyth man clearly went out of the educational system before he went into it. ^manners