"conventional wisdom"

[Michael Quinion]

John Baker wrote:

> It looks like Howells used it earlier.  From William Dean Howells, April
> Hopes 438 (1888; copyright 1887) (via Google Book Search):
>
> <<He could not think her superfluous, and she was very good-natured.  She
> made little remarks full of conventional wisdom, and appealed to his
> judgment on several points as they drove along.>>

I can take it back a little further:

1850 International Weekly Miscellany, July 15 (Project Gutenberg) There is
close at hand the birth of a new gospel, far above the common-places of
this conventional wisdom, which hinders the progress of the human race,
and the restoration to dignity and honor of this poor body, so calumniated
by the soul.


--
Michael Quinion
Editor, World Wide Words
E-mail: wordseditor at worldwidewords.org
Web: http://www.worldwidewords.org

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