A man may well bring a horse to the water,
But he cannot make him drink without he will.

This proverb is commonly credited to the Tudor playwright and epigrammatist John Heywood, whose collections helped fix many English sayings in print. It appears in his mid-16th-century compilation of proverbs and epigrams, produced in a culture that prized sententious “commonplaces” for moral instruction and rhetoric. Heywood wrote for courtly and popular audiences during the reigns of Henry VIII and Mary I, and his works often present practical wisdom about human behavior. The saying reflects early modern assumptions about persuasion and agency: one may create the conditions for action, but cannot compel inward assent or desire.

The line distinguishes between providing opportunity and controlling choice. “Bringing a horse to the water” represents offering access, instruction, or inducement; “making him drink” stands for the internal decision to accept what is offered. The proverb’s force lies in its realism about limits: coercion can move bodies, but not necessarily wills. It is often invoked in contexts of education, reform, and counsel—situations where one party can guide, warn, or facilitate, yet the outcome depends on the other’s voluntary response. The phrasing “without he will” underscores that consent, not mere proximity, completes the act.

1) "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink."
2) "A man may lead a horse to water, but he cannot make him drink."
3) "You may bring a horse to the water, but you cannot make him drink."