Great minds think alike, but fools seldom differ or great minds may think alike, but the best think for themselves. The phrase origin, "great minds think alike" isn’t known but is attributed to 17 th century England as a proverb. There are earlier versions of it in Arabic - same meaning but long before the 17th century.

Similar ideas were expressed in English in some older texts. However, there is a proven use of this expression in French by Voltaire (1760). 1) "Used ironically. Both verb and noun have changed in the course of this proverb's history, the earliest instance of the present form thus far discovered being quot. 1898. Jump used absolutely in the sense of ‘agree completely’ or ‘coincide’ is now archaic. Though he made that verse, Those words were made before. ‥Good wits doe iumpe. [1618 D. Belchier Hans Beer-Pot D1] Great wits jump: for the moment Dr. Slop cast his eyes upon his bag‥the very same thought occurred. [1761 Sterne Tristram Shandy III. ix.] As great minds jump this proves‥that my Mind is Great! [1889 A. James Journal 1 Dec. (1964) 61] Curious how great minds think alike. My pupil wrote me the same explanation about his non-appearance. ‥ [1898 C. G. Robertson Voces Academicae 24] ‘Great minds think alike—that's why we're never in agreement.’ [2002 Washington Times 28 May C9 (Bottomliners cartoon)]" Source and further information: http://www.answers.com/topic/great-minds-think-alike 2) French reference (Voltaire) "“Comment les Grecs ont-ils mis en fables ce que les Hébreux ont mis en histoire? serait-ce par le don de l’invention? serait-ce par la facilité de l’imitation? serait-ce parce que les beaux esprits se rencontrent? Enfin, Dieu l’a permis; cela doit suffire.” Voltaire,”Dictionnaire philosophique”, “Bacchus”" Source and further information (French): http://www.mon-expression.info/les-grands-esprits-se-rencontrent "les beaux esprits se rencontrent" means "nice minds come together". Later in French, the expression changed to "les *grands* esprits se rencontrent" ("great minds come together"). See also this: "When a Frenchman and an Englishman think alike, they certainly must be right." Source and further information: "Full text of "Voltaire's visit to England, 1726-1729"" http://www.archive.org/stream/voltairesvisitto00balluoft/voltairesvisitto00balluoft_djvu.txt