zwei Dumme, ein Gedanke

German

Alternative forms

• zwei Doofe, ein Gedanke

Etymology

Literally, "two fools, one thought". Likely a sarcastic alteration of the now rarer variant zwei Seelen, ein Gedanke (compare Norwegian to sjeler, en tanke), itself probably from a humorous application of the romantic verse Zwei Seelen, ein Gedanke / Zwei Herzen und ein Schlag (“Two souls, one thought / Two hearts and one beat”). (This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. Particularly: “author/origin of this verse?”)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /t͡svaɪ̯ ˈdʊmə ˈaɪ̯n ɡəˈdaŋkə/

Phrase

zwei Dumme, ein Gedanke

1. great minds think alike / fools seldom differ (phrase used when two people simultaneously have the same idea)