2006-10-02 10:45:36 · 4 answers · asked by lamb1211 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
Well I'm not a history buff or anything, but if I had to guess, I would think it comes from the old western days when mail or messages were delivered by pony express. People could get "gun happy" and may be tempted to shoot the messenger of bad news.
2006-10-02 10:51:15 · answer #1 · answered by sparkie 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In ancient India too, whenever a messenger of enemy country used to come to convey a message to the King. The king would never lay a finger on the messenger leave aside shooting the poor guy.
Everyone knows that the messanger is just saying what he was told to say.
Hence, the quote.
2006-10-02 17:54:48 · answer #2 · answered by King of Hearts 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The advice "Don't shoot the messenger" was first expressed by Shakespeare in Henry IV, part 2 (1598) and in Antony and Cleopatra (1606-07). Prior to that, a related sentiment was expressed in Antigone by Sophocles as "No one loves the messenger who brings bad news."
2006-10-02 17:49:49 · answer #3 · answered by Doethineb 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Messages have been delivered by people for many many years but back when laws weren't so strict the bringer of bad news would often be killed, just for the sake of it.
2006-10-02 17:57:01 · answer #4 · answered by *Care Bear* 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋