Proverbs store the wisdom of ages in short, memorable lines with several layers of meaning. This blog states a weekly proverb and explores its meaning. Sir Winston Churchill, the former British Prime Minister, war leader, writer, painter, historian, bon viveur, whose mother was a United States citizen, recommended that people lacking formal education to learn proverbs. "The Wisdom of Nations lies in their Proverbs... Collect and learn them". William Penn, founder of the State of Pennsylvania.
Sunday, April 30, 2006
There's no place like home.
Old familiar haunts are easier to relax in as your brain has already sussed them out and feels secure - less chance of something nasty lurking about. Your home should be a safe and secure refuge from the stresses and perils of the world - a bolt hole, a den, a personal castle. Here you can put your feet up, relax and recharge your batteries ready for another exciting day in the great outside.
Saturday, April 29, 2006
First impressions count.
Firsts and lasts tend to stick in the memory hence the advice to make a good first impression. Job interviews, dates, first day at a new place is the time to be prepared and put your best foot forward. It is also the time when you are most likely to be nervous but with a "little forethought you can save much afterthought". But if it does go wrong don't be too worried, "to err is human, to forgive divine".
Friday, April 28, 2006
Handsome is as handsome does.
You might be the best looking person around but if you are a jerk people will soon find you out and see that you are less than perfect inside. The plainer person who proves themselves a good and reliable friend becomes beautiful in the totality. This is a warning against being taken in by appearances rather than looking for character.
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Put your best foot forward.
It can be tempting to give less than your best effort because we all have an inbuilt tendency to conserve our energy. It is very easy to get into lazy and slovenly ways but we never know when someone potentially beneficial to our lives might come by and judge us on what they see. So it is best to keep your standards as high as you reasonably can, though common sense tells us that stressing yourself excessively and worrying all the time about performance could ultimately be counterproductive.
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Count to ten.
If you wish to avoid unnecessary rows it is recommended you count to ten before replying to a provocative remark. This gives you time to think and check any natural impulse to retaliate that might just escalate into a major confrontation. By calmly walking away your opponent can be left looking foolish.
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Every cloud has a silver lining.
A dark depression descends on your life, despair, gloom, misery fills your horizons - so where is the silver lining? you wonder. Be positive, the smart people tell us, so how do you do that when the Heavens are tumbling in on you? The first thing is to analyse your situation - is it really as bad as you think? Is their a wise friend or convenient stranger you can unburden yourself too - someone who has experienced the same problems and has come through? The marvel of the Internet is that you have the whole world to communicate with - there's bound to be someone with similar problems. So don't despair, there is always someone worse off than you and plenty of potential help. Many people's success in life resulted from a reaction to a period of adversity - fight till you drop, never give up. Sir Wiston Churchill, the inspiration for this blog, faced Britain's darkest hour with resolution and utmost determination - marching on to a shining victory. So can you.
Monday, April 24, 2006
Oppose not rage whilst rage is a its force but stay a while and let it waste.
Staying calm when others are slagging you off can be a good strategy. They are not likely to listen to reason and anything you say might provoke further irrational torrents. Save your best arguments till they have spent their energy and released their frustrations, only then will they be more amenable to quiet persuasion.
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Half a loaf is better than none.
Starving people don't have to be told this. Compromise is often necessary in many life situations and it is rare to get everything you want - sometimes that is for the best. Those who always get the whole loaf might end up obese.
Saturday, April 22, 2006
Patience is a virtue.
Impatience leads to rows and hasty actions that can cause accidents. Learn to stay calm in difficult situations and don't always think the worst of someone's actions - they might be having difficulties of their own and your hasty reaction could make matters worse.
Friday, April 21, 2006
Man's best friend is his dog.
No doubt many will rush to agree with this. Who else but your favorite mutt will give you a lifetime of unquestioning devotion no matter what any human thinks of you? Dogs have a natural sense of duty to the pack leader and want nothing more than to be your best friend and companion - and the occasional juicy steak.
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Revenge is a dish best served cold.
How many times has someone done something to infuriate you and your reaction has simply made matters worse? The old advice of counting to ten before reacting can save you from a serious breakdown in relations. "If you give them enough rope they will hang themselves" goes another old saying indicating the wisdom sometimes of not hitting back immediately. If you do have to take defensive retaliatory action it is best done when you are calm and rational.
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
The early bird catches the worm.
This might literally be true but the early adopter can also be the one who is landed with the problems - there might be an angry farmer waiting with a gun. The bold rush in and sometimes carry off the prize; the cautious wait and see how the bold have faired but might lose the advantage as the price of delay - you makes your choice!
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
As the sapling is inclined so the tree grows.
Early influences can shape the rest of your life: good parents, healthy environment, skilful teachers will give the optimum chance for a person fulfilling their potential. Damage in youth can grow and multiply as the years go by. Parents must be like good gardeners and give their offspring the right conditions for growth and development; but we are all subject to the vagaries of Nature and no matter the good intent things can go wrong.
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Great minds think alike.
If great minds are those that understand the true way of things it is logical to suppose that they will arrive at the same conclusions - there is one truth, and a multitude of mistakes for the less talented to "discover".
Saturday, April 15, 2006
Manners maketh man.
Someone might look great and be accomplished but if they are boorish and ill-mannered they will not win friends and influence people. Only the super-talented and very rich can get away with it. The ordinary person is more likely to be acceptable if they have an agreeable disposition and pleasant manners.
Friday, April 14, 2006
Fortune favors the bold.
This has echoes of "who dares wins" and "faint heart never won fair lady" and is pointing out that you have to try - otherwise you will never succeed. Just be wary that you tend to hear of those who succeed but history forgets all the failures.
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Lost time is rarely found again.
The trouble with time is that you can't save it up and use it when you need it. It is therefore important to use the time that you have wisely. Learn to be efficient and plan your activities so as not to waste any of this precious commodity.
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
The end justifies the means.
Attributed to Machiavelli the 15th century Italian statesman who advised princes on how to go about their business. It is sometimes used as an excuse for doing something wrong by pleading that the outcome will eventually be benificial.
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Faint heart never won fair lady.
This can get you into trouble if you take it too literally. Girls like to be admired and pursued don't they? Just make sure the particular one you fancy is in the mood.
Monday, April 10, 2006
The pot calling the kettle black.
Originating in the days when cooking was done on an open fire that covered the utensils in soot. Used when you criticise someone for a fault when your own is as bad or worse. It is always easier to see fault in someone else whilst ignoring your own shortcomings.
Sunday, April 09, 2006
An apple a day keeps the doctor away.
Apples contain vitamins and minerals highly benificial to health as well as helping to clean the teeth so this is a wise old saying.
Saturday, April 08, 2006
Liars have need of long memories.
Telling lies can get people out of a tricky situation in the short term but later events could expose the lie if they have forgotten the circumstances that were implied by it.
Friday, April 07, 2006
People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
The literal truth of this is obvious but it applies to many life situations. If you provoke people in a verbal attack make sure you are not vulnerable to retaliation. An awareness of people's tendency to indulge in "tit for tat" should alert you to the folly of damaging the interests of others without considering the consequences.
Thursday, April 06, 2006
The grass is always greener on the far side of the hill.
We are rarely satisfied with what we have and wonder if others have it better. A nomadic instinct pervades all peoples and we have an urge to nibble and walk. Distant prospects are enhanced by our imagnings and draw us on.
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
The Devil looks after his own.
We all know the person who seems to break all the rules and get away with it. Perhaps they do, perhaps they don't, but perception is sometimes more potent than reality. This saying dates from the time when people had strong religious convictions and they were puzzled as to why some people appeared to get away with wrongdoing - hence the put-down of the Devil looking after them on Earth but hinting that they would get their comeuppance in Hell.
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
Neither a borrower nor a lender be.
If you are up to your ears with your mortgage and have just lent your least trustworthy acquaintance your loose change you know the truth of this saying. Prudent people avoid unnecessary debt. Very much a case of "look before you leap".
Monday, April 03, 2006
Make haste slowly.
You all know the scenario: something needs to be done in a hurry and you go so fast you make mistakes. Learning to pace yourself and find the optimum speed is not easy. Try not to get flustered - keep cool, calm and collected. "Controlled panic" might sum it up!
Sunday, April 02, 2006
Stolen fruits taste sweetest.
It is a true fact that something a little illicit gives an adrenaline boost. Ask anyone on a strict diet! This might be counter-balanced by feelings of guilt surfacing later. Often applied to a secret romance
Saturday, April 01, 2006
The man who never made a mistake never made anything.
Many people are put off trying something new from fear of making a mistake whilst others leap into action, crying: "Fortune favors the bold" and "Who dares wins". Sometimes they succeed spectacularly but they can also come a cropper and are then told: "Look before you leap". It probably all boils down to individual nature: some of us are born cautious and others bold.
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2006
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April
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- There's no place like home.
- First impressions count.
- Handsome is as handsome does.
- Put your best foot forward.
- Count to ten.
- Every cloud has a silver lining.
- Oppose not rage whilst rage is a its force but sta...
- Half a loaf is better than none.
- Patience is a virtue.
- Man's best friend is his dog.
- Revenge is a dish best served cold.
- The early bird catches the worm.
- As the sapling is inclined so the tree grows.
- Great minds think alike.
- Manners maketh man.
- Fortune favors the bold.
- Lost time is rarely found again.
- The end justifies the means.
- Faint heart never won fair lady.
- The pot calling the kettle black.
- An apple a day keeps the doctor away.
- Liars have need of long memories.
- People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
- The grass is always greener on the far side of the...
- The Devil looks after his own.
- Neither a borrower nor a lender be.
- Make haste slowly.
- Stolen fruits taste sweetest.
- The man who never made a mistake never made anything.
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April
(29)