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The meaning and origin of the expression: Fair exchange is no robbery

Fair exchange is no robbery

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What's the meaning of the phrase 'Fair exchange is no robbery'?

An exchange of two things of equal value is a reasonable and honest trade.

What's the origin of the phrase 'Fair exchange is no robbery'?

The proverbial saying 'fair exchange is no robbery' is first found in a place we might expect to find it, that is, an early and comprehensive collection of English proverbs. There are a few of such but, in this case, it is John Heywood's 1546 glossary A Dialogue conteinyng the nomber in effect of all the Prouerbes in the Englishe tongue:

Though chaunge be no robbry for the changed case.

Apart from what it means and where it originated, there's not a great deal more to be said about this proverb.

See also: the List of Proverbs.

Gary Martin - the author of the phrases.org.uk website.

By Gary Martin

Gary Martin is a writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.

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