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“To each his own” means that everyone is entitled to their own personal tastes and opinions, whether it be in romantic partners, music, or politics. This concept of permissiveness and tolerance can be traced back to ancient Greece and has biblical references. However, it has also been controversially used by Karl Marx and the Nazi regime. The sentiment behind the phrase suggests a level of tolerance for those who find happiness in ways that don’t fit our beliefs or preferences.
Whether the title of a 1946 film or an American standard song, the phrase to each his own generally means that everyone is entitled to their own personal tastes and opinions. This could apply to a person’s choice of romantic partner or musical preferences or political leanings or any other activities. After all, what might appear offensive or unappealing to some might be the complete opposite to others.
There are a few other common sayings that cover this nonjudgmental territory as well, including whatever floats your boat, different strokes for different people, and the Biblical aphorism don’t judge, lest you too be judged. In this sense, any of these terms could be used to conclude an unlikely romance or unexpected affiliation.
The phrase itself, or at least a popular variant, can be traced back to ancient Greece, where it became a popular sentiment in the legal profession. For a society to work well together, there had to be a certain level of permissiveness and tolerance. This is the key principle underlying the reluctance of legislators to legislate on morality. What may be offensive or immoral to one group may be perfectly permissible in another, so the concept discourages efforts to create artificial boundaries regarding personal freedoms.
There are also several biblical references to the concept. Jesus’ parable concerning servants given various sums of money (talents) based on each servant’s worth to his master is an example of each individual being rewarded or punished according to their merits. The Apostle Paul also refers to believers in Christ who receive the gifts of the spirit according to their virtues and abilities.
There are also some highly controversial uses of the phrase. Karl Marx wrote in his preface to the Communist Manifesto that every worker should be compensated according to his contributions to the state. This concept can also be traced back to ancient Greek philosophy. When the Nazi regime built concentration and labor camps to hold Jewish prisoners, the gates were often decorated with two popular expressions: Arbeit Macht Frei (Work will set you free) or Jedem das Seine, which literally translated to “To each his,” but idiomatically meant “Every person gets what he deserves.”
The sentiment behind the modern expression suggests an admirable level of tolerance for those who find love, happiness, or fulfillment in ways that don’t necessarily fit our beliefs or preferences.
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