The last drop makes the cup run over.

This is a variant on "The last straw breaks the camel's back" and reminds us that everyone has a breaking point. Some people boil over at the least irritant and some patiently put up with hassle upon hassle but eventually they too will snap. Recognising a looming problem before it actually occurs is a good life skill - a wise person will take action before the storm breaks. If you are on the receiving end, giving some kind of signal that you are being put upon and that you are likely to do something about it will alert a sensible manager or spouse etc. who might then change their ways. If you are the source of someone's irritation consider heading off trouble by thinking ahead and mending your ways before the last drop makes the cup run over.


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No point in crying over spilt milk.

You can't scrape it up and put it back in the pail! All you can do is resolve to be more careful in future. There are many life situations where things go wrong and there is nothing you can do about it. Some people waste too much time grieving over loss when it would be better to direct their energies in a more positive manner. It would not be human just to shrug and get on with it. We seem to need some expression of grief or anger when things go wrong. After all, is there any language that hasn't got some swear words - expletives that help to release tensions and communicate to others the strength of our feelings? Perhaps the saying should be modified to: "No point in crying over spilt milk, just have a good swear and get on with life"!


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There are as good fish in the sea as ever came out of it

Environmentalists and conservationists might take issue with this old saying in our age of over fishing and depleted stocks. This is a variant of "There are plenty more fish in the sea". Often used to console a jilted lover, this is an encouragement for people to stop wailing about loss and get back to putting in the effort to replace what has gone with something as good or better. "Men should not wail their loss but cheerily seek how to redress their harm" covers much the same idea. An earnest counsellor might add "Where there's a will there's a way" or "Think positively". After all "Nothing succeeds like success!".


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Don't bite off more than you can chew.

Stressed out? overworked? Sound familiar? Perhaps this saying applies to you. Taking on more than you can cope with is a constant temptation. Perhaps you are a working mother juggling work schedules and school runs and ending the day exhausted. Perhaps you are self-employed, running your own business with a need for 25 hours in the day. The answer might be to sit down and examine everything you do and start looking for time efficiencies. If you are the obliging sort and always try to help others perhaps you need to learn to say no. Working yourself ill brings no one any benefit - you have a duty to look after yourself. Just say: "Sorry, I've already bitten off more than I can chew!".


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The cow must browse where she is tied.

We are all limited by our circumstances. In theory humans have freewill and can make their own choices but often we are tethered to a situation by an invisible rope. You could leave your boring job but will you find an alternative? You could abandon your restrictive family ties and emigrate to a new land but will you be happy? Brave or foolhardy souls will sometimes cut the ties that hold them and run off to pastures new. Sometimes they prosper and create envy in those locked in to their situation. Other times they come to grief giving some reassurance to the stay-at-homes that despite its shortcomings staying put is the best option. You makes your choice!

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A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.

Literally true and an encouragement to get off your butt and get on with it. Procrastination - finding excuses to avoid starting something - is a human trait. If we leaped enthusiastically into every situation we would be exhausted therefore making choices is important. However, if we are too indecisive we can end up like Shakespeare's Hamlet, all thinking and no action: "To be or not to be, that is the question. Whether it is nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune or to take arms against a sea of troubles and by opposing end them." You have to make your decision and then take the first step on what might be a long road - so "put your best foot forward" and off you go.


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The dog that trots about finds a bone.

This is an old Gipsy saying and in a nomadic lifestyle where food and useful things have to be sought this makes a lot of sense. It is an encouragement to put in the effort and seek what you need. Success rarely comes to those who sit and day dream about it. The mind that seeks a discovery must be active and hunt for solutions. The songwriter who wants a hit must be busy about his writing and making contacts - ferreting out the news and discovering the facts. The businessman must do the same - anyone looking for success must "get on their bike". There is also a suggestion that just by getting about, even if you are not actively seeking, there is a reasonable probability you will come across something worthwhile.

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Always at it wins the day

This is an old proverb which might have modern connotations not thought of then. Basically it is saying that persistence and hard work pays off in the end. Many people dream of success and then go out and buy a lottery ticket - they might be lucky but it could be a very long wait. The most certain way to success is to apply yourself to a situation that has potential, learn everything you need to know and put in steady hours for as long as it takes. Most people prefer the easy options and most people have to either get lucky or be content with their daydreams.

All's fair in love and war

This must have been an excuse for many a wicked deed. People in love can verge on the irrational and might do things they would never ordinarily contemplate. Doing something unethical could of course rebound on the doer if the loved one (or rival) found out and didn't like it. In war there are rules and conventions but if they are ignored and you are on the losing side you could pay dearly. Love and war are strongly competitive situations and this saying indicates the intensity of an involvement that brings out the best and the worst of those concerned.

Good kail is half a meal

Kail or kale is a hardy vegetable that supplies many vitamins and is good for health though not all that palatable to many tastes. It was once a standard crop in Scottish gardens where it stood up to the climate well and gave its name to a homely style of writing "kailyard". This saying seems to tell us that the basics of life can usually be got but the luxuries require more effort. It also suggests not despising the ordinary, perhaps echoing the saying, "Never despise the bridge that carried you over".

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Grasp all, lose all

This is a warning not to be greedy and try to get everything. In the stock market wealthy investors say "leave something on the table" meaning sell out before a market top. If you stay too long looking for the very top price the market can suddenly drop and you lose all. In other walks of life examples can be: being too possessive in a relationship and getting dumped; demanding too high a pay rise and being made redundant; setting you prices too high and attracting no customers.

Great and small makes up a wall

This is particularly appropriate to the country craft of building stone walls or drystane dykes. The mason skilfully places the naturally shaped stones together using different sizes to bind together and form a solid and lasting structure. People come in all shapes and sizes and we often find fault with what we have inherited in our physical make up - too tall, too short too dark, too fair, too fat too thin We all want to be perfect but is their such a thing? If we were all the same it would be very boring. Nature is very wise and makes us all different for a purpose - so that we can come together in groups and teams each helping the other with specific abilities derived from our inherited characteristics. We are stronger as a multitalented group. Interlocked we present a strong "wall" to all the storms and trials of existence - whether we are great or small we are an important part of the whole.

A bad workman blames his tools

It is of course a fact that some people will blame their failings wherever they can and this saying has some validity, yet anyone who does practical work soon discovers the importance of good, well maintained tools. So a saying such as "a good workman is highly critical of the state of his tools and makes sure he has the best" would be quite appropriate! It could be that this saying was originated by disgruntled employers whose miserly nature meant their work people had to make do with rubbish equipment. A good workman with bad tools will struggle to do a good job; a bad workman will do a bad job even with good tools - and probably damage them in the process!

A rugged stone grows smooth from hand to hand

How many times have you heard someone referred to as a "rough diamond"? People can acquire smother manners and ways of coping as time and experience knock off the rough edges. When young we tend to be opinionated and definite in our views willing to annoy others in our self-righteousness. With time and experience we learn that things are never that simple there is always shades of grey where we thought it was black and white. The rock that stands up to the sea does not go unchanged. Time modifies all..

Least said soonest mended

Most people talk too much because they wish to express their emotions. Humans are not governed by logic and calm, cold thinking; we tend to distrust those who seem to have too much of this trait. But learning when to shut up and move on can be a useful way of avoiding the "opening your mouth and putting your foot in it" scenario. "Look before you leap" and "Only fools rush in where angels fear to tread" are the watchwords to accompany this saying. Learn to walk away and leave your antagonist flabbergasted.

A bad Jack may have as bad a Jill.

If a man is bad tempered and drinking a lot he might just be a foul natured person but this saying suggests that perhaps his wife could be part of the problem. Is it her nagging or slovenliness that is making him moody and driving him to drink? How often have you observed that many couples appear to deserve each other? This is advice for men and women to consider their own faults and how they might affect their partners. Learning to make allowances and a willingness to compromise might reduce the queue at the divorce courts.

Don't look a gift horse in the mouth

To anyone unfamiliar with horses this saying might seem a bit mad but the informed know that examining a horse's teeth gives a good indication of its age, health and value. It therefore follows that to examine a gift immediately for its value would be rather boorish. More generally this is advice to appreciate the advantages and good things of life without worrying about the details too much - enjoy a good thing while you can.

Strike whilst the iron is hot.

In the age of the horse this saying would have required no explanation as most people would have watched the blacksmith at work. Taking action at the right time is important to the success of any enterprise. As Shakespeare put it: "There is a tide in the affairs of man which, taken at the full, leads on to success". In the stock market the experts stress the great importance of timing. People with good judgement and experience usually have an edge over others as they know the right time to start and finish, to buy or sell, to plant or harvest. They know when the situation will yield to appropriate action.

A barley-corn is better than a diamond to a cock

What would you rather have if you were dying of thirst in the desert: a bucketful of water or a handful of diamonds? It's a no-brainer. Value is relative. Learning to discern what is the most important and relevant of the many choices you have in life helps to separate the successful from the failures. Good judgement is one of the hallmarks of the winner personality.

A danger foreseen is half avoided.

This echoes the sentiments of "look before you leap" and the Boy Scout motto: "be prepared". Other sayings such as "meet trouble half-way" and "a little forethought saves much afterthought" are telling us the same thing; and judging by the number of them many people must have come to the same conclusions: Stay alert and look ahead. Obvious, really, isn't it? But how often do we do the exact opposite and "rush in where angels fear to tread". Wisdom does not come easily and we usually don't learn till "the school of hard knocks" teaches us a lesson or two

April showers bring forth May flowers

This is deceptively simple - a statement of an obvious bit of weather lore but look a little deeper and it is telling us that what we may not like can be the cause of something good. Difficult times can and often do lead to better times so we must put up with difficulties and look forward to the good times. Nasty medicines can be the means to better health. Saving can lead to prosperity. Hard work can create the funds for a good holiday. Tears at parting can be the precursor to the joyful sunshine of return.

A beggar can never be bankrupt.

Would this really be much comfort to a beggar? Alliteration always seems to give a saying a bit of authority. People who have a lot to lose have a lot of worries but if you are poor you might sleep better. The rich man contemplating financial disaster or about to take a major risk might quote this out of bravado but only to focus his mind on the consequences of failure.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

Our appreciation of the opposite sex is fairly subjective: one person's great catch is another's total reject. There are probably people who would be acknowledged to be "beautiful" by most observers where their features are of a certain regularity and proportion but often the person we personally find beautiful does not conform to the ideal - we love them for their faults and say things like, "beauty is only skin deep". There is a matching type for all of us and finding that good match is the true aim of the lover everywhere.

Don't get between a dog and his bone.

The practical truth of this is obvious if you want to avoid being bitten. The dog is programmed to protect that which is most important to it. In general life situations recognising another's property, rights or territory can help you avoid damaging confrontations. Respect the rights and interests of others and expect them to do the same for you.

Run your profits cut your losses.

This comes from the world of investment where investors have discovered the wisdom of getting out of a bad situation early and sticking with the good. It can be applied to other life situations like dumping an unsuitable friend and working to keep the good ones. A good job is worth persevering with a bad one will never get you where you want to be. The difficulty sometimes is making a judgement as to what has potential and what does not. Obviously "flogging a dead horse" makes no sense but what if it is just sleeping? With horses you could ask a vet or a knowledgeable friend. In other life situations it can help to get good advice from a reliable source - don't let your ego get in the way.

A bad excuse is better than none at all

Often said sarcastically but perhaps a lame excuse will lessen the likelihood of a row than the blunt statement that the reason you didn't turn up was because you couldn't be bothered. It all depends on the person you are dealing with.

You must crawl before you can walk.

This of course applies literally to babies and it is good counsel for beginners to learn the basics first. Very often failure to progress in a subject or training is because the early stages have not been fully absorbed - you must build on secure foundations. Remember: "Rome was not built in a day".

A bad shift is better than none.

To the modern reader this might seem to have something to do with promotion at work but "shift" here refers to a shirt. It is another proverb encouraging people to make the most of something even if it is less than perfect. Similar to "half a loaf is better than none", it reminds us that today in the developed world we can take things like clothing for granted unlike our not-too-distant ancestors who found it a struggle to afford a decent "shift".

The good a man does is oft interred with his bones - the bad lives for ever.

The good a man does is oft interred with his bones - the bad lives for ever.
Unfortunately people are more likely to remember a slight than a favor. Politicians who fall from grace are remembered for their calamity rather than the positive work they might have achieved. We tend to get an adrenaline buzz from wrong doing that makes events memorable - murder mysteries are more popular entertainment than stories of someone doing a good deed.

A bad bush is better than the open field.

Making the best of a bad job or contenting yourself with what you have or even being grateful for small morsels is the idea behind this saying. We all grumble a bit and feel we have drawn the shorter straw on occasions but you have to get on with life no matter the disadvantages or injustices. Where there's life there's hope.

A bad padlock invites a picklock.

This a counsel to look after your property and be suitably security conscious. Most thieves are lazy opportunists and will go for the easy chance. It can be applied more generally as advice to keep your guard up and deter your opponents by looking strong and capable. Competitors will exploit your weaknesses so be prepared and cover the chinks in your armor

It is not always May.

If only it were - spring is bursting out and the dreary days of winter are fast fading from memory; birds sing, people fall in love and to be alive is joy unending. Our lives also have their seasons and the zest of youth is a veritable May. Sadly it does not last and we move into busy summer, fruitful autumn and then the snows of winter. This proverb reminds us of the need to "make hay while the sun shines". "Lost time is never found again" so you must use the energetic days of youth as fully as your circumstances permit. It also alerts us to a best time for doing things, but it does not last - so get on with what you have to do while conditions are suitable.

If at first you don't succeed try try and try again.

Perseverance is nominated by most successful people as the primary factor in their achievements - their enemies probably retort: you were just lucky. But common sense tells us that more than one go is usually required to achieve something new. Budding authors usually experience many rejections before success arrives - all the time they are learning and improving. Athletes, no matter how naturally gifted they might be with excellent physique, need to train long and hard to get anywhere. It is also important to have good judgement and not waste your time on something that definitely wont happen - persevere but avoid being pigheaded

Seeing's believing.

Since language began the older generation has been telling the younger what they should and should not do - but do they ever listen? The fact is that that we rarely understand from words alone. Does any child really understand what "don't touch - that's burnie" means until they have actually been burned, hopefully in a minor way. So much of Grandma's wise words never sink in till some experience makes you aware of their good sense. If you are "on the ball" you will try to combine what people tell you with what you discover by trial and error - the trick is to wise up as fast as possible before a major mistake gets you.

Most really good things in life take time.

We live in an age of instant gratification but some things take time. Planting a seed and waiting for the bloom requires patience. Sensible investment is usually a long-term affair. Love, for some, might be at first sight but good, strong relationships grow steadily and build on solid foundations of trust and dependability. Many proverbs confirm this: "Patience is a virtue". "Rome wasn't built in a day". Can you think of any more?

Cometh the hour cometh the man.

"It is always darkest before the dawn" says one well known proverb and in times of crisis we look for a capable leader. Nobody suitable seems to be available but when the situation reaches critical it can stir the sleeping abilities of their hero to burst forth and shine. The ordinary seeming individual will find strengths within and rise to the challenge. Such as William Wallace, Oliver Cromwell, George Washington or Mahatma Gandhi.

The grass is always greener on the far side of the hill.

Have you ever stood looking at a far view and wondered what lay beyond? All our ancestors were nomads - stopping briefly in one spot and moving on. Packing up the tent and following the deer herds was a lifestyle for countless generations. This proverb is often used to counsel young people that though the attraction of elsewhere might seem superior to what they know - it very often isn't.

What you never had you'll never miss.

Our expectations lead us to want things which perhaps we would be as well without. If you lived in a small village, in times gone by, the many attractions of the big, glittering city would not attract you because you would not know that they existed. Once an awareness is created we feel we are missing out. It is wise to remember that "all that glistens is not gold".

A little of what you fancy does you good.

This is often used as an excuse for indulgence but there is some truth in it. It is important to enjoy your food and a little of the kinds that are fattening etc. won't do much harm and might cheer you up. It can be applied to many life situations but beware that it can be a prelude to overindulgence which does you harm.

In for a penny in for a pound.

This is about total commitment expressed in old UK money terms. It is when you decide to "go the whole hog" in any situation. It's most likely origin would be the world of investment where people might decide to "bet their shirt" and "go for broke" or perhaps it was an excuse originated by gambling addicts to justify "throwing it all away". The alliteration seems to add some validity to the expression but other proverbs such as "look before you leap" and "only fools rush in" come to mind. A proverb with a bold statement usually has a corresponding one with the exact opposite sentiment. It all boils down to "use your common sense" and "don't believe every thing you are told".

Don't put all you eggs in the one basket.

This could conjure up an amusing image of a wise peasant staggering around with dozens of baskets with a few eggs in each, but it is quite a sensible strategy in many walks of life. It is often applied to investments where you are advised to spread your risk so that one company failing doesn't wipe you out. It can also be applied to relationships - encouraging the idea of having a number of friends in case one lets you down. Having more than one job skill can also be useful when your principal employment is slack.

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.

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".

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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".

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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".

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!

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

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.

Do unto others as you would be done by.

We are quick to find fault and condemn those who annoy us but how annoying are we to them? The Scottish poet, Robert Burns, wrote,
"I wish the gift the Giftie gies us
Tae see oorselves as others see us."
Correct your own faults before criticising others

A cobbler's son is aye the worst shod.

If you are too busy pursuing your goals and ambitions you might neglect those around you. Try to find time for those who really matter.

Charity begins at home.

Giving to others less well off than yourself is seen as being a good thing. We all feel for the truly poor and needy. But if you are too soft-hearted and giving you might end up as a needy case yourself, and that is not wise. You should look after your own first and when you are strong you are better able to help others.

He who hath his quarrel just is thrice armed.

Knowing you are in the right will stregthen your resolve and determination not to be beat. The dishonest person has to struggle with the knowledge that they are wrong and could be found out at anytime.

Laughter is the best medicine.

This is pretty obvious we all enjoy a good laugh and doctors can explain how it relaxes and improves health. Perhaps they should prescribe joke books rather than pills! When you are feeling stressed and life is getting you down take some time out and enjoy a good comedy.

Look before you leap.

This is good practical advice to anyone in the habit of jumping off walls but applies to many life situations. It is an encouragement to consider the consequences of your actions. What you do today will affect how you are tomorrow.

Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me.

Often chanted by school children in response to verbal bullying - it lets the bully know you are contemptuous of their attack. Focus on the real problems in your life and ignore the froth.

A friend in need is a friend indeed.

When you really need help you often find out who your real friends are and who just hangs around. Help others where you can and don't be too proud to accept help when you need it.

Be prepared.

This is the motto of the Boy Scout movement founded by Baden Powell who was influenced by the traditional methods used by Native Americans to train their youth. Good preparation and foresight improves your operational efficiency. Think ahead and your problems will be half-solved before they arise.

Eavesdroppers seldom hear good of themselves.

We all like to know what others think and say about us but would we be pleased if we found out? Most of us have failings and our peers soon cotton on to them but they accept us just the same. How many times have you said something about a friend that they probably wouldn't like to hear?

Let bygones be bygones.

Keeping grudges alive can make people bitter and twisted, it is sometimes better to let them go and move on - forgive and forget.

While it rained, two bad men were friends.

When external circumstances are difficult people, even enemies, tend to band together to face the common threat. Cooperating with a rival might be tough but it could prove the best survival strategy for both.

You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours.

This can be an invitation to cooperate or a thinly veiled warning. It is usually better to get on with people but doesn't do to let them take advantage.

Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.

A major source of inefficiency in business and elsewhere is not attending to something at once if it is feasible to do so. If something can be dealt with immediately then it is cleared from your agenda and eliminates the need to remember to do it later.

From little acorns great oaks grow.

The long-lived, gnarled, sturdy oak is an impressive tree but like everything else it had to start somewhere. Anyone struggling to start a business from scratch can find comfort in this metaphor. Time, patience and endeavor will build a mighty empire to parallel the tree you planted to commemorate its launch.

A little of what you fancy does you good.

We are surrounded by advice from the media as to what we should eat or not eat, or drink or breathe - often contradictory. This saying tells us not to be over-concerned as most foods and other pleasures will not harm if excess is avoided. By making us happy they contribute to our well being.

Save something for a rainy day.

This is not advice to buy a brolly! At an elementary level it tells us to save money for when we might need it, but also applies to situations where having a reserve of energy or non- material resources could be important. When life is difficult it is sensible to have potential back-up from friends you helped in the past.

When in doubt - ask!

Men are particularly bad at struggling on with a problem when it would be easier to ask someone who knows the answer - the persistence of the hunter, perhaps. Women are often better at asking - especially if there is a knowledgeable man around! If you don't ask you don't get.

Trial and error wastes time, try thinking first.

How many times have you ripped open the packaging and attempted to use a new gadget by trial and error only to give up and have to stop and think - hopefully before breaking it. You might at least have read the instructions. Having a sensible well-thought-out plan of action can save a lot of frustration in most walks of life.

Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow may never come.

This should not be taken as an invitation to excess... well not all the time, the occasional indulgence will do no great harm. What we are learning here is the folly of being over cautious. Everyone knows stories of misers who have constantly scrimped and saved, lived in rags, and died worth millions. Life should be enjoyed according to your temperament.

Gluttony is a sin.

We live in an age of excess: obesity is a worry for millions; garbage dumps overflow with the detritus of our feasts. Our ancestors lived from hand to mouth winning their food from Nature with hard toil and sacrifice - they earned the occasional feast. We can saunter down to the nearest mega store and fill our trolleys. Now we need to learn self-discipline and to be content with enough.

That which costeth a man something he values.

People who have it easy do not appreciate their good fortune - hence the spoiled, rich, kid syndrome. The person who has suffered and struggled their way to success really knows what they have achieved and the true value of their gains. Wealth, good health, education these goals are obtained with difficulty by some and they alone know their true cost.

Easy come easy go.

This is often used as an excuse for imprudent spending but few of us find our cash easy to earn. Perhaps it explains why bank robbers are always lavish spenders. If you want to avoid money worries this is a saying better not practiced. On the other hand, if you are looking for a good time...

There is many a slip betwixt cup and lip.

How often have you thought that something was "in the bag" after a lot of effort only for it to slip from your grasp at the last moment? It doesn't do to relax until an objective has been successfully completed. Failure at the eleventh hour is really galling; learn to follow through and leave celebrating until after you have won.

Look for the silver lining.

Life is full of problems that at times seem to be overwhelming but it is rare for a situation to be all bad. Be positive and an opportunity can come out of a difficulty: getting the sack can be the spur to starting your own business; splitting with your partner can lead to finding a better one, or give you more time to go fishing! Do not let a bad situation grind you down - look for the silver lining.

It is an ill wind that blows nobody any good.

Disasters happen - this is a fact of life - but one person's disaster can be another's opportunity. This is not being callous just recognizing reality. A landowner's tree crashes down and wrecks his shed. This creates work for a woodman and a shed salesman.

A nod is as good as a wink to a blind man.

"There are none so blind as will not see". Sometimes the truth of a situation is clear but we refuse to recognize it. We cling to outdated ideas and attitudes for fear of leaving our comfort zone. Anything new is a risk but there comes a time when we have to see the light and accept change.

If a little does not go much will not come.

This is an old, Chinese proverb reminding us that you have to put something in to get something out. This applies in most, if not all, walks of life. Investors must risk some money to gain. Businesses must invest to get profits. Farmers must fertilize their fields. In a relationship you must be prepared to give in order to receive.

He who laughs last laughs longest.

We have all been humiliated by failure or mistake. Unkind people laugh and jeer but if you are made of the right stuff you claw your way back, get to the top of the heap and can then relax and smile at your former taunters as they lag far behind. Success is sweeter after failure.

Rome wasn't built in a day.

Anything worthwhile takes time: students toil at their books without salary for years in order to achieve a career goal; apprentices live on low wages to fulfill their ambition to master a trade; artists starve and struggle to create masterpieces. If it's worth the gain it's worth the pain.