live and let live

First mentioned in 1622 by Gerard de Malynes in a book about trade law, who mentioned "the Dutch proverbe leuen ende laeten leuven, to live and let others live".

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live and let live (third-person singular simple present lives and lets live, present participle living and letting live, simple past and past participle lived and let live)

1. (idiomatic) To be tolerant; to enjoy the pleasures and opportunities which life offers and to allow others to do the same.
   • 1818, Sir Walter Scott, chapter 23, in The Heart of Mid-Lothian:

     "Hout, neighbour," said Mrs. Howden, "we suld live and let live—we hae been young oursells, and we are no aye to judge the warst when lads and lasses forgather."

   • 1903, Arthur Quiller-Couch, chapter 36, in Hetty Wesley:

     ‘Live and let live’ is my motto: let me alone and I'll let you alone.

   • 2004 April 22, Michael Ancram, “If the British people vote no, Europe will thank them”, in guardian.co.uk, retrieved 14 June 2008:

     Our Europe policy is simple: live and let live, flourish and let flourish. That is a modern and mature approach.

• Often expressed hortatively as a proverb.

• live-and-let-live (adjective)

• Een oudvanderlands motto – Trouw.nl (29 september 2010)