proverb · Words worth keeping
One sheep follows another.
One sheep follows another.
Historical period not yet established
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
People can follow a lead without independently examining where it goes. The sheep image warns about imitation that substitutes for judgment.
What the words are saying
One movement is pictured as drawing another after it. The saying can prompt a person to ask why a choice is attractive and whether it fits the evidence. It does not prove that agreement is mindless or that an unusual choice is wiser. Following a trustworthy guide can be reasonable, especially when their knowledge is relevant. The useful distinction is between considered reliance and repetition without understanding.
Everyday example
Someone asks why a widely recommended method suits the task before adopting it simply because others have done so.
When to use it
Use it to examine a choice driven mainly by imitation.
What it does not mean
Shared choices can be well-founded, and independent judgment can still reach the same conclusion.
Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Historical period not yet established
No sufficiently supported historical placement has been established. Import and download dates are not treated as composition dates. - Recorded source
- A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases
Entry 1424 · Sheep
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.
- Culture
- English