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Who really said it

He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls

Recorded in Proverbs Anonymous (Book of Proverbs) Provenance and wording checked
Verified Free to reuse

Proverbs 25:28 in the King James Version contains this comparison between lack of self-control and a city without defenses. The verse is verified as scripture, not as a personally authenticated saying by Solomon.

Last verified 9 Nov 2026 · how we verify · spot an error?

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“He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls” — Anonymous (Book of Proverbs)

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Provenance

The source

Documented source
Proverbs 25:28, King James Version
Date
Traditional King James text; translation first published 1611

He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.

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How we verified this

  • Proverbs 25:28 in the King James Version contains this comparison between lack of self-control and a city without defenses. The verse is verified as scripture, not as a personally authenticated saying by Solomon. Read the source
Public domain

The King James English wording is public domain in the United States. This does not apply automatically to modern translations.

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The author

About Anonymous (Book of Proverbs)

Anonymous (Book of Proverbs)

The name in the evidence

The Book of Proverbs is a biblical wisdom collection. This page identifies its verse and translation without claiming that a named historical person demonstrably composed this particular sentence.

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The primary source (Chicago)

Proverbs 25:28, King James Version. Traditional King James English text. Evidence and bibliographical details reproduced in the linked source; no independent access to an original edition is claimed unless stated.

This verification page

Quotle.info. “Who really said ‘He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls’?” Last verified 9 Nov 2026. https://quotle.info/who-said/he-that-hath-no-rule-over-his-own-spirit-is-like-a-city/

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