The saying, ” As a man is, so he thinks” is attributed to William Blake on the 2006 Zen Calendar (May 27th)  but a google search indicates it was formulated by Josiah Royce in 1882.  Royce, – in his own day – was pioneer in the development of symbolic logic, a philosopher and historian of the stature of William James .

This mis-attribution, common on the web, at first riled me but then I realized that it is the highest form of praise.  Many of Shakespere’s best lines were commonly attributed to the bible when the Bible was considered the highest authority.  Now that Buddhism is the rising star on the religious horizon many wise sayings get attributed to some Buddhist.

Does it really matter who said a great truth?  The source matters only if the veracity or utility of the saying is supposed to have derived from the source. “The” Buddha is alleged to have said, “Be ye a lantern unto yourself.” It may give a feeble light but it will shine on your path.