Blood is thicker than water
Meaning
Family relationships and loyalties are stronger and more important than those with friends or others outside the family.
Origin
The enduring wisdom that family comes first echoes from the depths of medieval Europe, where the proverb 'Blut ist dicker danne wazzer' (blood is thicker than water) was already a recognized truth. First documented in the 12th-century German epic poem 'Urquell' by Heinrich von Melk, this powerful declaration affirmed the unbreakable bonds of kinship over all other allegiances. In an era where survival often depended on the strength of one's immediate family, the phrase served as a stark reminder that ancestral ties, shared lineage, and the very 'blood' running through one's veins held a profound and undeniable superiority over casual friendships or even the symbolic 'water' of communal gatherings, establishing an ancient truth that resonates still today.
Examples
- Even though Mark's friends offered to help him move, he knew that ultimately, when real trouble hit, blood is thicker than water, so he asked his sister first.
- After years of estrangement, they reconciled, realizing that despite their differences, blood is thicker than water and family ties always prevail.