Hebrew Proverb? Turkish Proverb? Kimberly Joyce Pollock? Wafula Chebukati? Anonymous?

Question for Quote Investigator: A popular allegory suggests that people are unable to distinguish between allies and adversaries:
The forest was shrinking, but the trees kept voting for the axe. The axe was clever and convinced the trees that since his handle was made of wood, he was one of them.
Would you please explore the provenance of this tale.
Reply from Quote Investigator: This metaphorical framework has a long history. A pertinent proverb was circulating in the 17th century. The Reverend J. Ray published “A Collection of English Proverbs” in 1678 in Cambridge, England. A section of Hebrew proverbs titled “Adagia Hebraica” contained the following, Boldface added to excerpts by QI:1

The axe goes to the wood, from whence it borrowed its helve
The “helve” is the handle. This saying criticizes individuals who injure their own people or who injure those who have given them power.
Below are additional selected citations in chronological order.
Continue reading “Quote Origin: The Trees Voted for the Axe Because the Axe Handle Was Made of Wood”