birds of a feather flock together

• birds of the feather flock together

The expression appears to have surfaced in the 16th century, allegedly a literal translation of Plato's Republic.^[1][2] In 1545, William Turner wrote a version of the expression in the Rescuing of Romish Fox: "Byrdes of on kynde and color flok and flye allwayes together." One can, however, also compare the expression to Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) 27:9: "Birds resort unto their like."

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birds of a feather flock together

1. (idiomatic) People of similar character, background or taste tend to congregate or associate with one another; it is easier to establish friendships with people that one has a lot in common with.

   Synonyms: like attracts like, like likes like, apple does not fall far from the tree

   • 1899, The Puritan - Volume 5, page 206:

     So, in London, birds of a feather must flock together, willy nilly, silk hat and frock coat must go with white gloves and brown sables, peaky blinder and “choker" must associate with crop fringed hair, ear curls, and rakish three feathered hat.

• opposites attract

• flock together

• birds of a feather
• like two peas in a pod

• Gregory Y. Titelman, Random House Dictionary of Popular Proverbs and Sayings, 1996, →ISBN, p. 31.