Vol. 06 · Misquoted ·Saying ·51 of 348
"Cleanliness is next to godliness."
They never said that.
What people say
"Cleanliness is next to godliness."
What was actually said
"Cleanliness is, indeed, next to godliness." John Wesley — Sermon 93 "On Dress" (1778) by John Wesley
Why it stuck
Wesley quoted the line as "an old adage." It is not biblical; Jewish and Christian sources use similar language.
Know another line by heart?
Play the duel and see how many you can spot. Or browse the whole shelf.