even Jove nods

A form of even Homer nods — Even the most vigilant and expert are fallible.

Meanings

proverb
  1. alternativeAlternative form of even Homer nods.

    [I]t is said that even Jove nods upon occasions; but if Venus ever did, the record has been lost.

    1896, Lilian Bell, The Under Side of Things, page 178
    5 more examples

    To err is human, and even Jove nods. But it certainly seems unnecessary to go out of the way to invent and elaborately embroider stories so grotesque as this.

    1903, Factory and Industrial Management, volume 24, page 760

    It is said that even Jove nods; the paying teller must never nod, since he is beset with opportunities to make mistakes, a single one of which may cost the bank a great deal of money and him his place and chances of advancement.

    1905, Orison Swett Marden, Choosing a Career, page 315

    It is even related that at one time when [Napoleon] caught [Marie Louise] experimenting with the making of an omelette he gave yet one more instance of his omniscience by playfully teaching her how to prepare it. That he dropped it on the floor would seem to prove that even Jove nods.

    1913, The Chautauquan, volume 70, page 68

    Time usually is correct in its statements but we have classical authority that even Jove nods occasionally.

    1933, Time, volume 22, numbers 14-26, page 10

    “Even Jove nods,” Roosevelt said, which meant nothing to the storekeeper. Grunting, Roosevelt carried the full milk cans out to the wagon.

    1997, Harry Turtledove, How Few Remain, page 547

Origin

Alteration of even Homer nods, substituting Jove, a seemingly even more infallible agent.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

even Jove nods. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/even%20Jove%20nods

MLA

“even Jove nods.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/even%20Jove%20nods. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “even Jove nods,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/even%20Jove%20nods.

Source: even Jove nods on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.