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Old Sun Dec 28, 2008, 11:14am
BillyMac BillyMac is offline
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Connecticut
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Good Advice, Except For Lion Feeding ...

Quote:
Originally Posted by just another ref View Post
It's just the way everybody in my association does it 90+ % of the time. I see it all as a non-issue.
"When in Rome, do as the Romans do"
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition. 2002
When visiting a foreign land, follow the customs of those who live in it. It can also mean that when you are in an unfamiliar situation, you should follow the lead of those who know the ropes.

The proverb is often attributed to Saint Ambrose, whose advice to Saint Augustine read: "Si fueris Romae, Romano vivito more; si fueris alibi, vivito sicut ibi" ('When you are in Rome live in the Roman style; when you are elsewhere live as they live elsewhere'). St. Ambrose, quoted in St. Augustine Letters, "quando hic sum, non ieiuno sabbato; quando Romae sum, ieiuno sabbato", "when I am here i.e. Milan, I do not fast on Saturday; when I am in Rome, I fast on Saturday".

Also:
"Whan tho herd hat Rome Do so of ther the dome" (when you are at Rome do as they do there).
(Modern Philology (1940))
"That which is commonly in euery mans mouth in England Whan you art at Rome, do as they do at Rome".
(1552 R. Taverner)
"My advice to you is among the Romans, do as the romans do".
(1766 in L. H. Butterfield)
"Do at Rome as the Romans do,’ is the essence of all politeness".
(1836 E. Howard Rattlin the Reefer)
‘I thought the English never bothered about protocol?’ ‘When in Rome, however, we do as the Romans do.’
(1960 N. Mitford Don't tell Alfred)
"One woman stationed there (Saudi Arabia) who purports to be comfortable with the rules said, ‘When in Rome, do as the Romans do.’ But how far does that go? To feeding the lions?"
(2001 Washington Post 8 Dec.)
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