Vol. 06 · Misquoted ·Saying ·19 of 348
"All roads lead to Rome."
They never said that.
What people say
"All roads lead to Rome."
What was actually said
Mille vie ducunt homines per saecula Romam. — A thousand roads lead people forever towards Rome. Alain de Lille (French theologian) — Alain de Lille, Liber Parabolarum (c. 1175)
Why it stuck
The medieval Latin is specific — "a thousand roads," "forever." Modern English rounds it up to "all."
Know another line by heart?
Play the duel and see how many you can spot. Or browse the whole shelf.