you can lead a horse to water but you cant make him drink

[michysj]

what is the meaning of the phrase you can lead a horse to water but you cant make him drink? who is the author and the date?

[andy hughes]

The phrase in its literal sense means that you have control over where the horse will or will not go, you have reins and can lead it to water. Once there, the choice of wether or not to drink the water is down to the horse alone - you have no control over that choice. It's used to illustrate an argument that you may have a degree of control over a situation, but somewhere along the line, there will be an element of free will over which you have no influence.

[Ouisch]

And remember - you can lead a horse to water, but a pencil has to be lead.

[Kingaroo]

Thank you Ouisch.
And you can lead a norticulture, but you can't make her think.