Samuel Butler

1613–1680 · English poet & satirist

Samuel Butler (1613–1680) was an English poet best known for Hudibras, a mock-heroic satire ridiculing the Puritans and religious hypocrisy of his day. Published in three parts (1663, 1664, 1678), the poem was hugely popular at the Restoration court and coined several phrases that outlived their bawdy origins — including “spare the rod and spoil the child.”

Traced to source

1 quote we’ve traced

“Spare the rod and spoil the child”

Disputed

Did they really say it?

Thought Samuel Butler said something else?

Type a quote you think Samuel Butler said — we’ll tell you what we know, or point you to the best sources.