When in Rome, do as the Romans do
When in Rome, do as the Romans do[1] (Medieval Latin sī fuerīs Rōmae, Rōmānō vīvitō mōre; sī fuerīs alibī, vīvitō sīcut ibī, often shortened to when in Rome...)[2] is a proverb attributed to Saint Augustine. The phrase means that it is advisable to follow the conventions of the area in which you are residing or visiting.[1]
Saint Monica and her son, Saint Augustine, found out that Saturday was observed as a fast day in Rome, where they planned to visit. However, it was not a fast day where they lived in Milan. They consulted Saint Ambrose who said "When I am here (in Milan) I do not fast on Saturday, when in Rome I do fast on Saturday." That reply is said to have brought about the saying "When in Rome, do as the Romans do."[3][4]
References
- ^ a b Speake, Jennifer, ed. (2015). Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (6th ed.). OUP Oxford. p. 269. ISBN 978-01-910-5959-9. OCLC 914473236.
- ^ Cresswell, Julia (2010). Oxford Dictionary of Word Origins. OUP Oxford. Rome; pp. 371–372. ISBN 978-01-995-4793-7. OCLC 965141221.
- ^ Marvin, Dwight Edwards (1922). The Antiquity of Proverbs: Fifty Familiar Proverbs and Folk Sayings with Annotations and Lists of Connected Forms, Found in All Parts of the World. G. P. Putnam's Sons. pp. 294–299. OCLC 978104222.
- ^ Brewer, Ebenezer Cobham (1900). Dictionary of Phrase and Fable: Giving the Derivation, Source, Or Origin of Common Phrases, Allusions, and Words that Have a Tale to Tell (3 ed.). Cassell. p. 1070. OCLC 258268902.
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