Seven Sayings that Didn't Actually Originate from the Bible

The English language is full of wise sayings that have become part of our everyday vocabulary. In many cases these famous sayings originate from the Bible and people don't even realize it. Unfortunately there are also many famous saying that people think originate from the Bible, but they really didn't.

The following seven quotes are sometimes mistaken as being from the Bible when they aren't.

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush is a common phrase that did not originate from the Bible. The current form of the phrase actually wasn't even used until the 19th century. The earliest example of this phrase that anybody can find is in a newspaper in 1833.

Beggars can't be choosers.
Beggars can't be choosers is another saying that does not originate from the Bible. The first form of beggars can't be choosers didn't come until 1546 when John Heywood compiled a book or proverbs.

Charity begins at home.
An English physician by the name of Sir Thomas Browne coined the phrased Charity begins at home. In his book Religio Medici Sir Thomas Brown said, "But how shall we expect charity towards others, when we are uncharitable to ourselves? Charity begins at home, is the voice of the world; yet is every man his greatest enemy, and, as it were, his own executioner.

Cleanliness is next to godliness.
This phrase has godliness in it so surely it came from the Bible right? Nope, cleanliness is next to godliness actually came from a sermon by John Wesley. The idea probably came before John Wesley but the wording we are familiar with was created by John Wesley.

Everything that glitters is not gold.
It's hard to determine who created this quote but it never appears in the Bible. Many authors have used this quote over the year including Cervantes, Chaucer and Shakespeare.

God helps those who help themselves.
Not only is this quote never used in the Bible but also might not even be correct, depending on how you choose to use it. The quote was actually created by Ben Franklin and it appeared in Poor Richard's Almanac in 1757.