[Ads-l] Adages: Don't wrestle pigs or chimney sweeps

[ADSGarson O'Toole]

Back in January 2016 Bonnie Taylor-Blake shared some early simpler
instances of the saying: "Never wrestle with a pig; you both get
dirty, and the pig likes it". The remark about the contentment of the
swine was omitted in 1872:

http://listserv.linguistlist.org/pipermail/ads-l/2016-January/140327.html

A recent entry on this topic at the QI website is informed by Bonnie's
results. She and Barry Popik are acknowledged:

Never Wrestle with a Pig. You Both Get Dirty and the Pig Likes It
http://quoteinvestigator.com/2017/07/08/pig/

Another recent QI entry examines a precursor:

Don’t Wrestle with a Chimney Sweep or You Will Get Covered with Grime\
http://quoteinvestigator.com/2017/07/06/chimney/

Another recent entry explores a different statement about pigs. "The
Dictionary of Modern Proverbs" is cited:

Never Attempt To Teach a Pig To Sing; It Wastes Your Time and Annoys the Pig
http://quoteinvestigator.com/2017/07/10/sing-pig/

Feedback welcome,
Garson

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