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The meaning and origin of the expression: Two heads are better than one

Two heads are better than one

What's the meaning of the phrase 'Two heads are better than one'?

Two people may be able to solve a problem that an individual cannot.

What's the origin of the phrase 'Two heads are better than one'?

This proverb is first recorded in John Heywood's A Dialogue conteinyng the nomber in effect of all the Prouerbes in the Englishe tongue, 1546:

Some heades haue taken two headis better then one:
But ten heads without wit, I wene as good none.

'Head' here means 'mind', as opposed to heart or spirit. The notion of two being better than one, although not specifically two heads, was also expressed in the Bible; for example, this chapter from Ecclesiastes, 4:9, in in Miles Coverdale's Bible, 1535:

Therfore two are better then one, for they maye well enioye the profit of their laboure.

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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