As early as the 14th century, the phrase was recorded as a proverb, "Est in proverbys, Non e' loco melior de la casa de l'omu" ("It's in the proverbs: There's no better place than home").
Similar sentiments are found throughout ancient literature, including:
- "Where can a man be happier than in his own house?" (Homer, The Odyssey, 8th century BC)
- "No matter how delightful the guest-chamber may be, it is better than all to sit by one's own hearth" (Theognis of Megara, 6th century BC)
- "Home is the best place for a man in whom the home instinct is deeply rooted" (Lucius Annaeus Seneca, 1st century AD)
- "No joy can equal the joy of a man coming back home" (Plautus, 3rd century BC)
- "There is an irresistible sweetness in home, even at its harshest" (Seneca, 4th century AD)
The exact origin of the phrase is unclear, but its universality and longevity suggests that it expresses a fundamental human truth: that there is no place quite like home.
