Appendix:Snowclones/X does not a Y make

English

Etymology

From one swallow does not a summer make, part of a translation of a remark by Aristotle (384 B.C.E. – 322 B.C.E.): "One swallow does not a summer make, nor one fine day; similarly one day or brief time of happiness does not make a person entirely happy." The phrase is more commonly translated as one swallow does not make a summer.

The does not a summer make word order first appears circa 1921, with snowcloned variants beginning to appear around the mid to late 20th century.

Phrase

X does not a Y make

1. (snowclone) Used to state that X is not sufficient to establish Y, or that Y is absent in spite of the presence of X.
   • 1948, Burns Chronicle and Club Directory

     Schools do not a scholar make. Even professors and teachers will tell you that all their teaching will not produce a scholar unless that scholar is willing, receptive, adaptive and applies himself with earnestness and diligence to study.

   • 1963, Cue: The Weekly Magazine of New York Life

     But a prologue and a set do not a comedy make.

   • 1975, Birding

     While most of the best birders probably have high list totals for the area of their expertise, it is still true that 600 birds does not a birder make. The only real test of a birder's integrity is his ability in the field with others.

   • 2014, Carole Mortimer, A Prize Beyond Jewels‎^[1], Harlequin, →ISBN:

     ‘And one night does not a relationship make,’ she added decisively. Rafe stilled as he eyed her guardedly. ‘Then what does it make?’ Nina shrugged slender shoulders. ‘It made for a few very enjoyable hours in bed together.’

External links

• does not a * make at the Google Books Ngram Viewer.