if the mountain won't come to Muhammad

== English == === Alternative forms === if the mountain won't come to Mohammed if the mountain won't come to Muhammad, then Muhammad must go to the mountain as the mountain could not wait upon Mahomet, Mahomet would go to the mountain === Etymology === An ellipsis (anapodoton) of the apocryphal phrase "if the mountain won't come to Muhammad, then Muhammad must go to the mountain," coined in a story by Francis Bacon (1561–1626) === Pronunciation === === Proverb === if the mountain won't come to Muhammad If something one wishes to be done cannot be commanded to be done, one must find another way to achieve one's goal. ==== Translations ==== === See also === Appendix:English examples of anapodoton === References === === Further reading === “if the mountain won't come to Muhammad, Muhammad must go to the mountain”, in Dictionary.com Unabridged, Dictionary.com, LLC, 1995–present. “if the mountain will not come to Mohammed” in Idioms and phrases, TheFreeDictionary.com, Huntingdon Valley, Pa.: Farlex, Inc., 2003–2026. What do you mean by 'Mountain come to Mahomet'?, quora.com if the mountain won't come to Muhammad, Muhammad must go to the mountain in The Oxford Dictionary of Idioms by Judith Siefring, 2005