It is a little contradicted adage: "The dress does not make the monk".
In other words: appearances are sometimes deceptive.
But what is the origin of this expression?
Monday in Historically yours, Stéphane Bern takes us to the 13th century, and even further, to answer it ...
Anyone who has been mistakenly judged to be unqualified in a field or has been surprised by a deceptive appearance will agree with this adage:
"Clothes do not make a monk."
The powerful expression of popular wisdom that every French person has probably heard once in their life.
But where does it come from?
Every day, in
Historically yours
, Stéphane Bern suggests discovering the origins of expressions that we use every day.
Monday, the host takes us to the 13th century, and even further ...
It is in the 13th century that we find the first trace of the expression "the habit does not make the monk".
It would be the translation of the Latin formula "barba non facit philosophum".
Attributed to Plutarch, this expression very similar to its current form, means "the beard does not make the philosopher".
The trick of the Trojan horse
But the expression we know today could have other origins.
Some link it, for example, to François Grimaldi, ascendant of the family which still reigns over the principality of Monaco.
In 1297, he had seized the rock thanks to a trick.
He and his army had disguised themselves as Franciscan monks and had sought asylum.
They actually took advantage of the night to repeat the trick of the Trojan horse.
On the coat of arms of Monaco, we also find two monks carrying swords, to remember this feat of arms.
Indeed, the habit had not made the monk that night.
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A final explanation can shed light on the origin of the formula.
In the 13th century, Pope Gregory 9 used this expression to remind that not all monks behave appropriately.
"Focused on the thing", greedy, violent, all were not saints, far from it.