I remember hearing at some stage the saying that if you save someones life you own it. I can't remember if it was a film or book or if it's something that comes from a heritage of some country or other. Any ideas?
Anyone know where I heard this?
- Thread starter Alitriona
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The actual saying is if you save someone's life you are responsible for it. In other words, whatever they do from that point, good or bad, on is your responsibility. I believe it is either Buddist or Hindu. I once read an account of a child falling into a river from a small boat, and neither parent would lift a finger to save it, just wailed and moaned, because to save the child would have meant they were responsible for it forever.
I'm sure it didn't originate there, but this is a part of Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, which opens with Morgan Freeman saving Kevin Costner's life, then following him back to England out of responsibility for that life.
Maryn, who still shudders at Costner's accent
Maryn, who still shudders at Costner's accent
JamieB
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Yeah, I've seen the idea of a life debt used in so many movies and books that I'm unsure who to owe its origin too.
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When I think of the concept, I always think of it as an "Old Chinese Proverb" -I've got no particular attribution for it, but that's what I heard as a child.
Yes...it is an old Chinese proverb.
If you save someone from drowning you're responsible for them for the rest of their life.
Or something like that. It's been rewritten to suit the situation, but I believe drowning was originally part of it.
If you save someone from drowning you're responsible for them for the rest of their life.
Or something like that. It's been rewritten to suit the situation, but I believe drowning was originally part of it.