Service without reward is punishment

Service without reward is punishment

Service is given and received by many people and varies from the selfless devotion of a mother to the latest slick marketing of something you neither need nor want, with much in-between.

Today, Remembrance Sunday, we remember the armed services and the sacrifices they make in times of trouble. We seek to show our appreciation and offer thanks to all those who gave their lives or suffered dreadful injuries in the pursuit of their duties, not forgetting their loved ones who had to continue alone or under a heavy burden.

For most of us the horrors of war are only in our imaginations and we look upon those brave souls who have been tested in the extremes of conflict as heroes. It is not enough just to admire - we need to show our appreciation in practical ways. Through contributing time, effort and money to appropriate organizations we can demonstrate that we truly do remember them and all the suffering and pain they have endured on our behalf.

Vows made in a storm are forgotten in the calm

Vows made in a storm are forgotten in the calm.

When the pressure is on our desire to be, and to be seen to be, virtuous is great. Most religions teach that there are consequences for wrong doing and that our difficulties and disasters can be seen as a punishment for sins.

In the halcyon days of good times we tend to let our guards down and start indulging in selfish behavior. When hard times come round again we are forced to consider our life styles and accept that perhaps our own actions have contributed to the situation. Our desire to be worthy and good is intensified.

There is a parallel here with politicians who are full of noble ideals and grand intentions in the hard times of opposition but when they finally move into the sunny uplands of government all that gold plating of goodness and virtue starts to wear thin. Eventually the people lose patience and throw them out into the darkness again. And so the cycle goes on.

The eagle does not catch flies.

The eagle does not catch flies.

This is a proverb from the time of the Roman Empire and has passed into many languages. The eagle standard that led the all-conquering army symbolized the mighty ambitions of the rulers of Rome.

Obviously a large bird of prey has to hunt animals of a reasonable size to justify the time and effort and it is this underlying principle that gives the proverb meaning.

One relevant aspect of this saying for today is a caution not to spend time and energy pursuing the insignificant. Everyone is very busy but do we always do too many niggling little tasks when we would be better focussing on major ones? Getting your priorities right means dealing with the big issues and not being bogged down in matters that can wait or be avoided. You might be convincing yourself that you are busy but unless the time and effort produces a meaningful return you are simple wasting time.

Zeal is like fire: it needs feeding and watching.

Zeal is like fire: it needs feeding and watching.

Enthusiasm tends to blaze brightly then fizzle out. How many millions of New Year's resolutions are made annually in a cheery glow of optimism only to have vanished by the end of January?
Sometimes this is because the intention was not properly thought through. The degree of commitment and time was not clearly understood. If a desirable benefit is to be achieved it is usually necessary to be prepared to make sacrifices - the gain must be worth the candle. Ask yourself: is it an achievable worthwhile aim or just a escapist daydream?

Having committed to an enterprise, of whatever sort it, is natural that the original impetus will falter, you should expect this and be prepared for it. It is useful to review and assess your projects from time to time and remember why you started them, and that your goals are worthy of putting up with the downsides. Taking things step by step, with definable goals and rewards along the way, can be an effective technique in maintaining that starting zeal.

May the fires of your life burn forever brightly.

You take more care of your shoe than your foot

You take more care of your shoe than your foot.

How many ladies have risked their feet by wearing fashionable shoes that just don't fit? Probably most. The main purpose of footwear is to protect the feet but the siren call of elegance and allure overwhelm good sense, and the result is ugly bunions, crossed toes and needless suffering. Is it worth it girls? Won't he still love you in a pair of big comfortable boots? If not you could at least give him a better kick!

This saying, at a deeper level, is warning us of the human tendency to get our priorities wrong. We deal with superficialities instead of the real issues. People can become obsessed, for example, with getting money when it is the benefits of money that are important. By budgeting more wisely and making your income go further you can get the same advantages and more time to enjoy them.

Some people will push themselves to a breakdown to afford a big house they do not need, forgeting that it is the happiness of the people living in a house that is the great thing, not merely owning it. Better a happy family in a small house than a miserable one in a mansion.

Wherever a man dwells, there will be a thorn bush near his door

Wherever a man dwells, there will be a thorn bush near his door.

Wherever you live, whatever you do, there will always be problems. Perfection is unknown to mere mortals so you had better get used to life's aggravations because they are never very far away.

Civilization is primarily concerned with Man's attempt to dominate and control his environment. In the early days of life organisms slowly changed, adapted and evolved to the environments in which they lived, but humans learned to adapt the environment itself. But however good we get at it, there is always another problem. Pause for a moment, and Nature seizes the opportunity to fight back.

It follows that your life philosophy must include a "permanent effort" clause. The golden moments when everything is going great do not last, and "constant vigilance" is the watch word. There is always a thorn near you, and the chances are your foot is heading for it.

When the pirate prays, there is great danger

A pirate, we would suppose, is an ungodly, predatory criminal who would laugh sneeringly at his victims who pleaded for mercy and prayed to their god for deliverance. But in his youth he might have had some religious instruction and would know how to pray but have rejected it in favor of a life of excess at other peoples expense. So things would have to be pretty bad before he would drop his wicked ways and turn to god for assistance.

Many people have weak religious convictions and take a skeptical attitude in their daily life but will, in a tight spot, find themselves appealing to forces greater than themselves - a prayer. Winston Churchill, the great war leader, had strict religious instruction in his youth and believed in God without question until as an adult he was exposed to other more scientific-based ideas that weakened his adherence. However, during his turbulent life when he encountered many dangers and difficulties he related that he often found himself praying.

Scientific proof that prayer actually works is hard to come by but most people when they have exhausted their human resources will often pray to what they hope is a greater reality - even the wicked godless pirate. After all, it costs nothing to try except an abandonment of selfish pride.

Where one is wise two are happy

Where one is wise two are happy.
They also say it takes two to make a quarrel and this saying is confirming that. If one individual in a relationship has the sense to avoid an unnecessary row it keeps both parties happy.

Imagine a couple: a very pretty, vain lady without a serious thought in her gorgeous head, prone to rash decisions and ill-thought-out spending sprees. If she is fortunate enough to marry a sensible, well balanced, thoughtful man who loves her deeply and who is patient and understanding, with the good sense to curb and control his wife's waywardness with forethought and planning, she is spared the worst of her own follies and leads a much happier life. Her husband is rewarded through the satisfaction of having such a delightful companion with the greatest of her follies trimmed to a bearable level without totally spoiling the spontaneity that probably attracted him to her in the first place. Result: a happy couple.

And, of course, ladies, it could work in the reverse also.

We hate delay, yet it makes us wise

As we rush around our lives wishing we had more time there are occasions when forces outside our control bring us to a crashing halt. It is frustrating, annoying and sometimes quite maddening; if only the passing hours could be bottled and used when we needed them.

The advocates of positive thinking and right mental attitude will tell us to see adversity as an opportunity -- to turn the negative into the positive. So how do we apply that to this saying.

Compelled to stop what we are doing whilst waiting for something or someone can give a good opportunity for reflection -- time to think about your life and purposes, to evaluate your hurry, and consider opportunities. It is said that Edgar Rice Burrows, delayed on a train trip, spent the time reading a cheap novel. He threw it down in disgust saying: "I could do better myself." Then the idea came to him: "Why not?" He took his own advice and went on to write the world famous "Tarzan" books.

The time to stop and think should be included in all our daily activities but it seldom is and often it is only when forced to a halt by chance do we get the opportunity. So the next time you are unwillingly delayed try a spot of positive thinking, and see if you can bring about an improvement in your life. Every cloud has a silver lining -- just take the time to look for it.

Death is in the pot.

Death is in the pot.

There can be few people today who are unaware of the consequences of a faulty diet. Gone are the days when gorging and over consumption were thought of as the joyful prerogative of the noble and wealthy. They should have cottoned on when King Henry the VIII died of a surfeit of lampreys.

The food we eat has a major influence on the state of our health. Food nutrition scientists now know what common sense used to tell the wise - a varied diet of fresh food keeps us in peak condition and therefore helps to sustain a long life. Modern athletes have their diets scrutinized in the finest detail in order to maximize their fitness and functioning efficiency.

Obesity is a problem so there must still be a lot of people who, though aware of the problem, lack the will power to avoid the wrong foods. It could be that some people are unlucky and have a fat gene or a fault somewhere but this saying tells us that it is worthwhile to think before you eat. The best way to avoid overindulgence is not to have a lot of the wrong food in the house. Go shopping when you are full, not hungry, and buy the sensible stuff.

On the other hand you could throw caution to the wind and live like a medieval king - "eat, drink and be merry" and snuff it.

He that is not in the wars is not out of danger.

He that is not in the wars is not out of danger.

You can chose to avoid a conflict but the outcome might affect your interests and safety in any case.

This saying is warning us of the danger of sticking our heads in the sand and ignoring problems we are not immediately connected with. Conflicts have a habit of spreading and engulfing those who do not wish to get involved. Sometimes it is better to "take action against a sea of troubles and by opposing end them" as Shakespeare said.

It is an observation that can be applied to many situations and not just wars. Everyone has problems, disputes and difficulties, and it is sometimes better to tackle them head on rather than waiting for the tide to be lapping at your doorstep before taking action. It is all part of the idea of being prepared and practicing prevention.

The current hot topic is global warming and we are being urged to do something before catastrophe strikes. The natural tendency is not to worry about dangers that seem a long way off, after all we could spend all our time worrying about the many possibilities of disaster that could happen. It is necessary to find out the facts before make a judgment on the strength of potential harm and act accordingly.

Those of a worried disposition are often told: "Cheer up! It might never happen." But what if it does?

Reputation is commonly measured by the acre.

Reputation is commonly measured by the acre.

In the day and age when most wealth was in the form of land ownership this saying would be readily understood.

We all know people whose standing in a community is assessed not on their abilities or achievements but on the wealth that they own. There is an observable tendency for people to hero worship success and ascribe great worth to those who have acquired the things we all tend to envy. Inherited wealth might fall into the hands of a naturally able person who is given a good education by wise parents and this can lead to a flourishing of someone's talents, albeit as a result of privilege. It can also fall into the hands of unsuitable persons who will abuse the luck that fortune has bestowed.

The individual who succeeds on their own merit is not immune to folly either. A singer, for example, might become fabulously wealth by using their God given talent and the masses will wish to follow their styles, clothes, haircuts etc. and regard their every utterance as gospel. But very often they are one-trick ponies and their opinions and activities outside their one area of competence are no better and probably worse than average.

In assessing a person's ability it is important to go on the facts and not judge by appearances or possessions.

A colt is worth nothing unless he break his cord

A colt is worth nothing unless he break his cord.

A dull, docile horse might have its uses but without a bit of youthful spirit it does not show much promise.

Applied to humans this saying is telling us that a young man who kicks over the traces is not necessarily all bad, just experiencing the difficulties of growth and adaptation that we all must go through. Many young men pass through a tearaway phase in their youth but later mature into fine adults and worthy partners and fathers.

The rites of passage from youth to adulthood are often fraught with conflicts and emotional outbursts as the young person struggles to come to an understanding of themselves and the time that they are a part of. If everyone accepted the status quo in a dull-witted, subservient manner there would never be any progress. A civilization must have the flexibility and strength to be constantly adaptation to new challenges and changing circumstances.

The careers of many successful people often show a time when they were rebels and perhaps helped to establish a new trend. Such people can often refer back to a time when an establishment figure told them they were a waste of space and would amount to nothing in life. Years later they are multimillionaires and their critic is still doing a boring regular job or surviving on a small pension. Some young men are, of course, just a complete pain and need a good telling to put them right, and you can never be sure if it was the wise old voice that set them on the right course, by giving them something to prove, or they would have achieved everything anyway.

A spirited colt, once broken in and trained, makes a fine horse. As another saying has it: Fortune favors the bold.

Judge no man by his clothes, but by his wife's clothes

Judge no man by his clothes, but by his wife's clothes

This saying was probably more appropriate in the days when men were the main bread winners but with a hint that the ladies were more in control than might be thought. Men generally are less concerned with their own appearance but take a pride in the attractiveness of their womenfolk. In some societies it was the custom for a man who was making money to buy gold as a form of saving and investment that was then worn by his wife in the form of jewelry.

A tradesman in dingy work apparel might have a well dressed wife at home proud of the fact that her skilled, hard working, though somewhat unkempt, husband was earning a lot of money. His pleasure coming from the happiness and enhanced attractiveness of the girl he loved and who enjoyed spending his money.

Nowadays many women earn more than their husbands so perhaps we will have to reverse this saying.

PS
And yes, you can make up your own jokes about this!

Adversity makes a man wise not rich

Adversity makes a man wise not rich.

In adverse circumstances you can either flee or face up to the problems and deal with them.
To take them on requires knowledge and understanding i.e. wisdom. This wisdom comes from experience, observation, trial and error and the counsel of others. Over time and with test and trial this mix refines itself into rules of thumb and guiding principles. It enables us to cope, and that is often all that we will be able to do.

It makes a great story when someone overcomes many obstacles and difficulties and goes on to great triumph and financial reward, so it is a story to be told and retold. For most of us, no matter what the hardships and dangers overcome, we can but expect to survive and carry on.

No bard will sing our praises, our tale will languish untold, except perhaps to our nearest, but we will have survived and have the personal satisfaction of knowing we faced the worst and somehow overcame adversity - and have become a far wiser person as a result.

Prosperity lets go the bridle

Prosperity lets go the bridle.

When learning to ride a horse you make sure to keep a firm grip of the reins and pay close attention to the actions of your mount. If you get over confident, let your attention wander and the horse gets spooked, you could be in for a hard landing.

People experiencing financial hardship learn the disciplines necessary for their survival. Money must be carefully budgeted, earnings must be maximized where possible, savings must be made whenever they can be, and waste eliminated. Your affairs must be constantly scrutinized to make sure you are making the most of what you have. If, after a time, your prudent management and hard work brings a measure of prosperity the tendency is to relax and enjoy. Soon relax becomes slack and then downright excess leading to debt and galloping expenses.

In the old mill towns of Industrial Age Britain they had a saying: "clogs to clogs in three generations". The first generation were poor and worked hard to get on. Their children knew poverty in childhood but witnessed their parents struggles and learned the habits of thrift and industry, and with the meager gains of mom and pop went on to do well and achieve such prosperity that their children never knew hardship. The unfortunate result was a squandered inheritance by the third generation and back to poverty - no more expensive leather shoes but a return to the cheap wooden clogs of their grandparents.

By all means enjoy success but never forget the hard lessons and keep a tight rein on spending.

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The Many are called but few are chosen.

The Many are called but few are chosen.

The world is full of wannabes and simple statistics tell us that only a small number can succeed: there just aren't enough success slots for everyone.

The filters that separate the wheat from the chaff include genuine ability, suitability, qualifications and things like being in the right place at the right time. Who you know is more important than what you know is another relevant saying here and is probably as true now as back in the days of aristocracy and wealthy capitalists. Some make it by trickery and dishonesty using charm and guile to evade detection and retribution. The human race is a many-faceted group and ingenuity will often find unexpected paths to the coveted goals we, sometimes mistakenly, call success.

And what of those who are left behind? Do they spend the rest of their days in miserable ignominy? Some might but most just shrug their sholuders and get on with it. Success doesn't always bring happiness, as Kipling put it: "If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat these two imposters just the same; ... you'll be a man, my son."

A man without money is a bow without arrow.

A man without money is a bow without arrow.



Ability requires opportunity and resources in order to show its worth.


If a good hunter and a bad hunter set out to find food for the tribe and the best one has an accident and loses his arrows he is unlikely to return with any game. The poor archer might get lucky and make a kill. If not the tribe will starve. Should common sense prevail the less able bowman will give his arrows to the proficient one and they will share the catch.


In the modern world bows and arrows can be bought but we have more sophisticated ways of "bringing home the bacon". Anyone starting a business so that they have the means to support their family will usually find it necessary to have start up capital. If they have a lot of ability but are unproven they might find raising this very difficult whereas their less able cousin who has the good fortune of a legacy will have an inbuilt advantage. Again a pooling of resources might bring the most advantage to all.

Put your foot down where you mean to stand.

Put your foot down where you mean to stand.

This makes you think of ancient warriors placing their standard and vowing to fight to the death like Ancient Greek Spartans or Cheyenne Dog Soldiers.

Many an old time battle was lost or won entirely on the nature of the terrain. The important point here is to be sure of your ground before getting into a conflict. This was literally true in war where charging at an enemy and discovering your horses were stuck in a bog invited disaster. This taught the general idea of not getting into a dispute without a good grasp of all the details and likely consequences. If you take a stand on something you are "pinning your colors to the mast" and can expect opponents to start taking pot shots.

This applies to your everyday life when you decide to be confrontational on a point of principle or in a conflict with your boss or a customer. You must make sure you have the advantage before taking action "be sure of your ground"; ideally this means you will know your facts and be in the right. If you are confident of the outcome you can then deal firmly with the problem.

Life is nine parts cards - one part skill.

Life is nine parts cards - one part skill.

How do some people succeed and others fail?

Commonsense tells you that the number of people who can get the plum jobs is limited. It is a statistical thing. An army of officers wouldn't win many battles no matter how good their orders were. A company of brilliant bosses wouldn't get a lot of work done without the sloggers. If everyone became a millionaire a million would not buy very much.

Success is relative and for most people comes through being the right person in the right place at the right time. Get your place and timing wrong and the glittering career will not be yours. Conversely, if you are a complete incompetent your best opportunities will be wasted.

But if you get the lucky breaks and apply your skill success can be achieved. This saying seems to be telling us that ability cannot flourish unless there is some form of opportunity and these opportunities are limited. In other words you need the lucky break (good cards) and only then can your skills be used to take advantage. It would appear that when Lady Luck smiles it is time to get cracking and make the most of it. Every dog has his day.

Proverbs & Personal Growth

The blog is now available as an ebook: "Proverbs Can Make You a Wise Man"

Benefit from ancient wisdom.
As the glories of summer fade, leaves drift from trees to form a deep, leaf bed. In time this creates a nutrient-rich earth and new plants surge in the spring sunshine. The past passes its richness to the present.

It is your legacy.
Countless millions of people have lived on our planet since life began. During the course of their existence certain insights, recurring ideas, pieces of knowledge or wisdom helped them understand the human condition and cope with its problems. These were condensed into short, memorable, pithy sayings known as proverbs, maxims, axioms and the like. The Proverbs of the Nations accumulated and now provide a powerful source of knowledge and understanding to fortify and sustain your life. Your forebears have left you this legacy.

Learn to use it.
This book will show you how to utilize this vast store of priceless wisdom to lead a happy and fulfilled life. You can undo the damage of false thinking, spin, marketing and all the artificial, trendy gone-in-a-minute attitudes poisoning the human spirit with deception and delusion. Proverbs are organic and natural - created by ordinary people in moments of extraordinary insight.

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Reproof never does a wise man harm.

Reproof never does a wise man harm.

How do you react when someone tells you off? It is a personality thing. Extroverts will become angry, possibly insulting and wish to retaliate immediately. Introverts will avoid conflict but will go off to ponder the matter and possibly seek revenge quietly. These are the extremes but what should a well-balanced ordinary individual do?

The first consideration is: is this reproof deserved. If "yes" then you should take it in the proper spirit, apologize if necessary, and resolve to be wiser in future. Don't shoot the messenger.

If undeserved, remaining calm and attempting to explain is usually the best course. If the reprover will not listen it might be best to remember: oppose not force while force is at its rage but stay awhile and let it waste. When everyone has calmed down, hopefully, reason will prevail.

Setbacks are often the starting point to advances and should be seen as an opportunity to retrench and prepare for better things.

Small faults let in greater.

Small faults let in greater.

This saying sounds suspiciously like the Great Granddaddy of the zero tolerance policy!

Breaking small rules is the slippery slope to a momentum that can send you hurtling to disaster. The child who discovers that they can get away with dropping litter, swearing at parents and bullying small kids will grow in confidence that they are smart and above the law.
The buzz from petty crimes will soon lessen and those desiring bigger kicks will seek to challenge authority more and more. They graduate through the ranks of crime and when it is too late the inevitable confrontation with the police happens and they get banged up. In prison they run the risk of being further brutalized and emerging as hardened criminals who can only think of bigger and better crimes as a way of getting on.

Regular, fair discipline is the only way to train the human mind to follow the rules and find a constructive path to success and happiness. As a sapling is inclined so will the tree grow.

Beauty without grace is a violet without scent.

Beauty without grace is a violet without scent.

Great beauty is a form of power. Many a powerful man has been reduced to a whimpering wreck by love of a fair maid. Literature and history abound with beautiful women who have used their influence over men to change the course of events. Names like Cleopatra, Madam Pompadour, Catherine the Great evoke images of female beauty interacting with the lives of famous and powerful men to affect the destiny of nations.

Perfection of form and face might suggest a noble soul but this does not always prove true. Handsome men are often depicted as overpowering and cruel leaving a string of sullied beauties in their turbulent wake but femme fatales can be just as deadly.

This proverb tells us that to have beauty that is only skin deep is not enough, it is necessary to have the wisdom and good sense to use its power with regard and respect for others. The eye is attracted to the violet by its color but the attention lingers due to the delightful scent. In days gone by people thought of the scent of a flower as being its essence in the way that the soul was the essence of the human form. Flower : scent. Body : soul.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Looking at a disaster and wishing it hadn't happened is not very helpful. If you were the cause all the excuses in the world won't put it right. Crying over spilt milk doesn't put it back in the pail. The best you can do is learn from the experience and resolve never to let it happen again.

This leads you to the idea of prevention. That is to stop something from happening by anticipating the problem and taking steps to avoid it. Using foresight or looking ahead is a good habit to cultivate. Many mothers acquire this naturally and foresee the dangers likely to confront their children and plan ahead to protect them before disaster strikes. But it applies to all peoples of all ages - we should anticipate problems and dangers for ourselves and others. Our actions might lead to friends or strangers suffering loss or accidents and we have a moral duty to avoid this.

There are many associated sayings with this idea. Look before you leap. Forewarned is forearmed. Who hinders not a mischief is guilty of it. Remember: an accident foreseen is an accident you can avoid.

The man who never made a mistake never made anything.

The man who never made a mistake never made anything.

This is great consolation as you look at the pipe you have just burst or the piece of wallpaper the lady in your life has noticed is upside down.

Mistakes do happen even to the most able of people. It might be your technique is lacking or your attention wandered or you have grown tired and need a break. Whatever, sooner or later something will go wrong. The important thing is how you react to this. Throw a tantrum? Kick the cat? Blame everyone in earshot? No, this might bring temporary relief but it solves nothing. All the sages will tell you to think positively: learn what you don't know, clear out distractions, have a rest. Tackle the issue, deal with it, move on.

Many people who dream of success never get down and dirty with it because of their fear of failure. Keep repeating this saying and resolve to tackle something new. And even if it is a total disaster you will have tried, and remember: third time lucky. If at first you don't succeed try, try, and try again.

As someone once said: The greatest mistake is fearing to make one.

A good horse never lacks a saddle

A good horse never lacks a saddle.

When there is a choice no one is going to pick a poor horse to go riding with, are they? Why give yourself unnecessary hassle?

This saying tells us that quality attracts success. An able person finds it easier to get a job. A good looking person is never short of dates. A good shop is never short of customers.

Present yourself well. Make sure that you have the best tools, education, clothes, car you can get and you won't go short of people who want to know you. Then, unlike the horse, you can be picky about who you want to associate with!

All roads lead to Rome.

All roads lead to Rome.

This dates from the time of the Roman Empire when this would have been literally true of much of Europe. The Romans built great roads to move goods and troops with superb efficiency.

When the military might of Rome had passed away and been replaced with the power of the Roman Catholic Church this was used more metaphorically. In other words all true paths led to religious salvation. Whatever you were doing in life the true purpose was to get you to Heaven.

Perhaps today it could be understood as implying that all life has a common objective, whatever that might be.

A good wife and health are a man's best wealth

A good wife and health are a man's best wealth.

The stress must be on the good part of this saying.

Finding a good match, that ideal partner is fundamental to domestic happiness. Most people rely on their instincts in choosing a mate but how much is natural attraction and how much rationalized from acquired attitudes. If you have the wrong attitudes and values you might be seeking the wrong kind of person. If you end up with a mismatch then your health could suffer from the stress and worry that the rows and disagreements create.

If you are lucky and find that perfect life companion your happiness and good sense will help to give the best chance for a long, happy and healthy existence.

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Good luck come by cuffing

Good luck come by cuffing.

This saying seems to date to an era when spare the rod and spoil the child was common advice to parents.

The idea being that well brought up children who have been taught firm discipline are more likely to succeed, and therefore appear "lucky" to their less fortunate peers. Learning at the school of hard knocks is a similar idea.

You cannot cuff your children today but if you want them to grow up to expect good fortune then teaching them the importance of disciplined, regular hard work will increase their chances of success.

A good head will get itself hats.

A good head will get itself hats.

Someone with a good head i.e. a competent, able person is likely to achieve success and wear the hat signifying their position.

Quite often, in many diverse human societies, rank or social importance has been indicated by the type of headgear a person wore. In the Britain of the Victorian era, lasting to around W.W.II when the fashion for men wearing hats died out, the managerial classes wore bowler hats and the workers a flat cap. The expression going cap in hand to the boss denotes this subservience.

In Native American tribes the war bonnet of eagle feathers showed someone who had demonstrated their courage and achievement in battle. A brave with a cool head in a crisis could get a feather in his cap.

The different ranks in organized armies often have different hats so that the soldiers know who to follow and salute. The ambitious person might aim to get himself promoted with the vision of putting on the coveted hat symbol. In the UK, paratroopers aspire to wear the red beret that shows they have achieved the honor of membership of the Parachute Regiment.

A Scottish Highland chieftain is entitled to have an eagle feather in his bonnet as an insignia of his position and the more important ones have two. The ultimate hat symbol of success is the monarch's crown.

Hats of course are also worn by ladies to enhance and project their femininity. There is an old saying to set one's cap at from the 18th century, when women wore fine, white linen or muslin caps that needed to be tied in place with ribbon. It meant trying to win a man's affections by setting a jaunty angle to their cap and showing off the crowning glory of their hair.

The Easter bonnet is worn by Christian churchgoers and is a colorful way of expressing the joy of the return of spring.

So, if you want to get ahead get a hat.

Work wont kill but worry will

Work wont kill but worry will.

They also say "hard work never harmed anyone, but how true is that? There are many work-related illnesses, and indeed the fingers typing this entry suffer from RSI! So it makes sense to worry about over-work or poor working conditions.

If that isn't bad enough the worry itself can be a problem. Stress, high blood pressure, ulcers, heart attacks, nervous breakdowns can all be linked to stress at work.

Learning good coping mechanisms, sensible working practices and getting appropriate time off for rest and relaxation is imperative. It is often the hardworking conscientious person who suffers most and a good, responsible manager will see to it that this type of person is not unduly and unfairly burdened. Do not kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.

He that would right understand a man must read his whole story

He that would right understand a man must read his whole story

How often have you jumped to conclusions about someone then had to revise your opinion later? If you are a typical human it will have been quite often. First impression can be misleading and it is often necessary to give the benefit of the doubt.

Have you ever watched a TV account of a crime where the story is revealed bit by bit, showing the offense and the accusations. The evidence mounts up, people condemn the suspect, but as the end nears we are told other facts which leave us in no doubt that the person is innocent even though for most of the time we were convinced of their guilt.

Sometimes we need to make up our minds about someone very quickly and it is only human to err on the side of caution, but condemning someone on slight knowledge of the facts can and does lead to injustices. It is because of this our system of justice has developed to demand proof and testable evidence before conviction. This means that some guilty people go free but better that than the totally innocent languishing in jail.

It is important to get the facts and be wary of those with a vested interest in the outcome.


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Light burdens long borne grow heavy

Light burdens long borne grow heavy

The drip, drip drip of water will eventually wear a hole in the hardest stone. The pounding waves relentlessly scouring the shore grind pebbles to sand. The tallest volcano gradually erodes to form soil. Time conquers all.

In relationships, petty aggravations long borne can suddenly flare up and lead to a major row and separation. From time to time you read in the newspapers how someone has flipped after 50 years of marriage and killed their partner. It is important to attend to recurring minor niggles before the last straw breaks the camels back.

A machine with a small fault that is ignored can sometimes cause an accident resulting in death or serious injury because the user has grown complacent. A driver with dodgy brakes crashes and kills someone. A smoker, little by little, damages their lungs until one day they are diagnosed with cancer.

This proverb is counseling you that you should look at the little problems in your life from time to time and see that they are put right. There is no point in tearfully claiming "it worked OK for years, I never thought it would do that!" The burden of your failure to act could weigh on you for the rest of your life.

He that would have the fruit must climb the tree

He that would have the fruit must climb the tree

Taken at face value this is not strictly true - ripe fruit will fall into your hands, and the low hanging fruit is easily grasped. This parallels many life situations where those first on the scene get the easy pickings.

After a new situation has settled down most people find they have to try hard to get what the lucky ones managed with ease. The first settlers in a new land get their pick of the best areas and the latecomers have to work for their share. When a new business opportunity or industry is starting it is often easier to succeed as the low hanging fruit is there for the taking. Have a look at the earliest films and see how easily pleased the first audiences were. Anyone with a cine-camera was assured of an appreciative audience. The acting was hammy and the directing dismal but it was new and exciting. Later, people wanted more sophisticated stuff and film makers had to develop a lot of skills and techniques to please them.

So, if the early birds have got all the worms, or fruit, be prepared to put in the effort to climb the ladder of success.


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He that is a master must serve

He that is a master must serve

We might have an image of the master as a kind of despotic oriental potentate whose every whim is a command, but in most communities the role of master or leader has a purpose.

A group of people cannot easily act together unless there is coordination of their activities and this requires a coordinator. He, it is usually a he, has appeared throughout history in the form of the chief, the king, the captain, or boss of some sort. This is often an extension of the normal position of the father as head of the family. In no way does this negate the position of women who can take the lead when circumstances require it, there have been some brilliant queens, but traditionally the female role has been a powerful supporting one.

To a young member of that society the leader might seem an all powerful, godlike figure but ultimately he is there to serve the needs of the people so that their society can function more efficiently. Tyrants who usurp this natural and necessary power usually don't last long.


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Pleasing goods are half sold

Pleasing goods are half sold

Anything you wish others to acquire must appeal to them. It is an acknowledged truth that we tend to judge a book by its cover when a sensible appraisal of its contents is the better way. An object or service needs to appeal to our senses first - if it looks right then it usually is right.

Our first impressions tend to be lasting so the seller of wares should seek to create a pleasing impact that will linger. Not only should it do what it says on the tin but the tin should tell its own story

The con man knows this too, but he seeks to sell the impression alone with no substance - the proverbial pig in a poke.

Buyers must therefore be aware - by all means follow your eye but make sure to use your other senses and reasoning power to test that it is the real McCoy. Check carefully before making a decision to buy.


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Who'll not save a penny will never have many

Who'll not save a penny will never have many

We all know the importance of earning a living - long gone are the ancestral days when scraping by on what the farm or cottage plot would provide was the only option. The modern economy means the division of labor and a steady income. The problem is your earnings never seem enough. A wage rise is often followed by an expectations rise and soon you are back to square one.

But are you using your existing income wisely? How many things do you buy that are not really necessary? By learning to budget and spend with good sense most people will find their money going a lot further than they thought possible. Remember, a penny saved is a penny gained with no need to pay tax and expenses on the getting of it. So it is worth a lot more than a penny earned.

Resolve to review your spending and expectations level. Be realistic and prudent: organize your life sensibly for the optimum benefit from existing income. Then, who knows, your newfound good sense might just lead your boss to think you are someone worth keeping and worthy of a rise!


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Better short of pence than short of sense.

Better short of pence than short of sense.

Everybody has money worries: there is always another bill to pay, new shoes for the kids, unexpected car repairs - the list is endless. It often seems that the royal road to happiness has to be a large lottery win. With lots of money life would be idyllic - seems obvious - a no-brainer.

The reality often is that lots of cash brings lots of problems and temptations. Stable marriages break up as the newly rich become self-obsessed. Kids with too much spending money are tempted by excess indulgence in alcohol, drugs, and unsuitable relationships. The dream can quickly turn into a nightmare - and spending more money often makes it worse.

A poor person with sense can often find contentment by living within their means and learning to appreciate the things that are free. Good friends, a stroll in the park, pottering in the garden, reading a library book, learning a new skill. Pretty soon they are in danger of becoming wealthy in the things that matter and make life worthwhile.

In an ideal world you would have plenty of money and the good sense to use it wisely, but wisdom rarely comes without experience, and if you have a lot of spending power your learning mistakes will be correspondingly greater.

Perfection is for gods - the rest of us have to manage as best we can.

Be still and have thy will

Be still and have thy will

This sounds like the lazy man's philosophy but is there any truth in it?

How many times have you expended a great deal of time and effort on a project to eventually conclude that it was all a waste of time and you would have been better off doing nothing? It does happen. Everything come to him who waits is another saying in this vein. Masterly inactivity is sometimes seen as the best way to cope with a problem. Very often finding the right time to act is the key, and knowing when to do nothing is a shrewd part of this. You can be too clever for your own good so try looking before you leap and thinking first.

Dozing in your bed can sometimes be the best way to get things done.


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The little which is good fills the trencher

The little which is good fills the trencher

In a world of obese people this old saying should make instant sense. Good health comes from moderation and where there is good health there is likely to be good sense.

How many offers do you see where the seller tries to impress you with the amount that you will get, believing that you will fall for all the bonus offers? What you really want is quality: something that does what it is supposed to do and brings the benefits that you need.

Children who overeat are often told that "their eyes are bigger than their bellies" but at all ages humans can be deceived by quantity versus quality. A little of what you fancy does you good; too much can kill you!

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One today is worth two to-morrows

One today is worth two to-morrows

Procrastination, putting things off till tomorrow is often expressed in the Spanish word manãna. Something postponed till tomorrow very often never gets done.

"Don't put off till tomorrow what can be done today" is much the same idea and "Strike while the iron is hot" conveys a similar concept of "action now". "There is no time like the present". "Just do it".

Many people have recognised and proverbalised our tendency to use a postponement as a lazy excuse to avoid an irksome but necessary task - after all "tomorrow might never come".

Little chips light great fires

Little chips light great fires

Stone Age man discovered this hundreds of thousands of years ago when he used two sticks and a lot of effort to start his tinder smoking. Add little dry pieces of wood and very soon you can burn whole trees.

This principle of starting small and gradually building up has been used countless times through countless ages by countless people - it works. The problem is that it needs patience and persistence so many people give up too soon. If you know that something really does work it is necessary to give it the time and effort it needs.

You too can experience the pleasure and satisfaction of a great blaze in whatever field of interest you choose if you get the little chips working for you.

Better a flawed diamond than a perfect pebble

Better a flawed diamond than a perfect pebble

Financially this is perfectly obvious as even a diamond with a fault will be worth much more than a flawless piece of rounded stone, but taking it as a metaphor we can consider human personalities.

The ordinary person who abides by the rules and gives offence to no one is a worthy citizen but will probably be regarded as predictably boring. The rough diamond type who rubs some people up the wrong way and might not be too fussy about rule breaking seems exciting to most people. The heroes in most novels and stories are those who take risks and bend the rules to their advantage - the maverick cop is a recurring staple of TV.

But you bend the rules at your own peril - in real life the dodger usually gets caught eventually.


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More are slain by suppers than the sword.

More are slain by suppers than the sword.

Feasting in bygone days was an unselfconscious affair: people would eat till they literally burst. Henry the VIII died of a surfeit of lampreys as no one would dare to tell a king to stop being so silly

Today we have a constant stream of media information warning against overeating and what to, and what not to, eat and drink. Yet despite this cornucopia of good advice people are more obese than ever. How many people do you know who are digging their own graves with a spoon?

Death by a sword stroke was a reality for our ancestors so perhaps they liked to "eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow you might die" but as most healthy people can now expect to reach 90 it makes sense to pace yourself and avoid binges - enough is better than a feast.

You must spoil before you spin well.

You must spoil before you spin well.

A few generations ago most of our maternal ancestors would have spun wool as part of their contribution to the family budget. This is where the term spinster came from as unmarried girls would be proving their worth to their parents and siblings with the very useful commodity of wool yarn.

The value of wool revenue in England was such that the Chancellor of the Exchequer sat on the woolsack. Our ancestors would have learned that the process of acquiring skill at spinning meant making many mistakes before proficiency was achieved. The basic principle of the saying applies to most human activities then and now.

Do not be afraid of making mistakes when tackling a new project as this is a part of the learning experience. "The man who never made a mistake never made anything".

Keep no more cats than will catch mice.

Keep no more cats than will catch mice.

Being over-equipped for a task can be a waste of resources. The farmer who has too many cats will have a barn free of mice but a big bill for cat food.

How many of us have too many tools for the tasks we must perform? Too much time spent on education detracts from the time spent applying what we have learned and earning the fruits of labour. A businessman who over-invests will ended up with assets that produce no meaningful returns. A healthy athlete should be lean and fit, carrying no excessive fat or muscle that is not needed to reach optimum efficiency for their chosen sport.

Acquire the assets or tools you need and invest your time becoming proficient in their use and you will reap the rewards.

A Diligent Scholar and the Master is Paid.

A Diligent Scholar and the Master is Paid.

This probably gives an idealised image of the schoolmaster of a bygone age, but proverbs should contain eternal truths, so what are they?

Job satisfaction is an important part of any occupation and the fruits of a schoolmaster's labours is a well educated, well rounded, young person equipped for life and able to be a worthy part of their community. These are noble ideals but no doubt many young people reading them will snort in disgust - old so and so only does it for the money!

Exceptional teachers are by definition exceptions but most will seek to help their students and gain satisfaction when they get a positive response. Teachers and pupils must work to learn and learn to work. Success will then come to all.

A lean dog shames its master

A lean dog shames its master

If your dog's bones are showing it is likely that you are either cruel and negligent, ignorant as to the proper foodstuffs or very poor. Whatever, you really need to do something about it.

This old Japanese proverb tells us a lot more than that though. Apply the basic ideas to any walk of life or situation and it is teaching us the importance of looking after your responsibilities properly. If you neglect your children's education and it shows in bad behaviour it is to your shame. If your work is skimped and shows a lack of attention and care it reflects on you.

Do right by those you have a duty to or it will soon become apparent to your peers that you are not worthy of respect.

Lend your money to a city but never to a man.

Lend your money to a city but never to a man.

This is an old Japanese proverb that echoes the sentiments of "Don't put all your eggs in the one basket". Spreading your risk to allow for the fact that disasters and difficulties will always hit some members of a group is generally regarded as a good thing to do. Insurance works on the same principles of shared risk. Unit trusts were invented with the same idea - spread the risk of calamities amongst enough people, and for a small sum you get the opportunity of recompense when a loss occurs

On the other hand, if you are willing to take a risk and back a talented individual you might get spectacular gains that do not have to be shared with others. But if it goes wrong you might very well lose everything. High reward usually involves high risk.

The good seaman is known in bad weather

The good seaman is known in bad weather

In the romantic days of the old sailing ships when the tea clippers raced for home through mountainous and stormy seas this would have been a very powerful image for a universal truth: The true worth of a person is only really apparent when difficult times stretches them to the limit.

On the eleventh of the eleventh 1918 the Great War came to an end. It had killed and maimed millions of people but had also revealed the heroism and endurance of special individuals who had risen above the fear and carnage to perform heroic deeds of courage and valour. Many of them went unrecognised and unsung but their comrades knew and praised them.

Hard times bring forth heroes and heroes end hard times.

Every man is a fool or a physician after thirty.

Every man is a fool or a physician after thirty.

In youth we take good health for granted and often test our strength and stamina to their limits. People trek to the north pole, cross deserts, climb mountains and endure all manner of deprivations in pursuit of adventure or glory. We assume that the body will recover after a little rest and nourishment.

Perhaps today we might think that the age here should be forty, and in the near future fifty, but there comes a point in all lives when we realise that we are not invulnerable and really ought to look after ourselves a bit better. This is when we start reading the adverts on how to stay young and fit. Or we continue our mad ways and drink, smoke and overindulge in all lives' excesses and rush thoughtlessly to an early grave.

Who really regrets the wild times and excesses of youth? If we lived in cotton wool all our days, as a doting mother might wish, our lives would be insufferably boring; but those who have reached the age of aches and pains sometimes wish they had been a little bit more sensible when young, perhaps striven a little less for unimportant goals, and kept more in reserve for an enjoyable seniority. Basically you make your choices and accept the consequences. After all, science might find a cure for everything - one day!

A good archer is known by his aim, not his arrows.

A good archer is known by his aim, not his arrows.

You can buy all the fancy equipment in the world but if you can't make use of it to get a result it is money down the drain.

Have you ever known a would-be artist who spends a fortune on brushes and paint and goes on course after course but still churns out rubbish? Spending money on equipment that you are just not talented to use well won't do you much good. If you have potential to develop a skill then work on it and find the training and tools that you really need. Flashy expensive stuff might impress the impressionable but anyone with sense will see through the glitz to the real or lack of talent that you have.

There is no point in flogging dead horses or buying them fancy saddles for that matter. If you haven't got what it takes find another activity where you might make the grade. Get your life on target.


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Better an ass that carries than a horse that throws.

Better an ass that carries than a horse that throws.

Who would not wish to own a fine thoroughbred stallion full of fire and haughty pride? But if it always threw its rider you would not go very far. In life people are often attracted to the glamorous and showy - be it cars, careers or companions; but how many live to rue the day?

If we get above ourselves and desire the impractical we are often set for a tumble. The ass is an ungainly, ugly beast of burden but will patiently plod along in all sorts of adverse conditions getting you and your load to the desired destination. Similarly, if you are prepared to consider the practical and available goods in your life you might be better off in the long run rather than choosing the high maintenance, showy, expensive alternatives. "Cut you coat according to your cloth" is another way of putting it.


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If you have two loaves, sell one and buy a lily.

If you have two loaves, sell one and buy a lily.

We struggle to earn our daily bread, sometimes muttering to ourselves that "Half a loaf is better than none" when things are not too good. We seek inspiration to carry on when everything seems uphill from sayings such as: "Where there's a will there's a way" or "Rome wasn't built in a day". Through history humans have had a hard job getting enough of the necessities of life.

Today the pursuit of material possessions has become an obsession for many and they have achieved a lot more than two loaves. Indeed, obesity is fast becoming a major problem. This proverb is telling us that we need more than goods that satisfy the physical side - we need to find happiness in beauty. You can't eat a lily but when you are adequately fed search not for further consumable pleasures but seek satisfaction for the mind and soul.



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It is too late to cast anchor when the ship is on the rocks.

It is too late to cast anchor when the ship is on the rocks.

In other words take action before a disaster, not after. This is a recurring theme in proverbs and wise sayings - the importance of remaining alert and taking precautions to avoid the unpleasant consequences. "It is too late to lock the stable door when the horse has bolted" is much the same idea.

"A stitch in time saves nine". "Be prepared". "Have not your lamp to light before the dark". All tell us of the importance of foresight and preparation - know what you have to do and be sure and see that it is done because "There is no point in crying over spilt milk".

"There is no time like the present" - so no more excuses - do it now!


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If you run after two hares you will catch neither

If you run after two hares you will catch neither.

Most readers of this blog will never have chased hares and probably have no desire to do so, but probably all of us have pursued more than one goal at the same time and come unstuck through lack of time and resources.

Focussing on the most important objective and making secondary forfeits is often the road to success. Avoiding unnecessary distractions means greater economy of energy and less time wandering off the true path. Just make sure that the "hare" you are chasing is really the one you want and don't waste your life pursuing a goal that eventually turns out to be not worth the effort.



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He will burn his house to warm his hands

He will burn his house to warm his hands.

Very short term thinking might induce a lunatic to do this but how many times does the ordinary person do the equivalent through a lack of understanding?

How many politicians make it impossible for themselves to govern well by betraying their principles in order to win an election? How many men risk a good marriage in order to have a brief, unimportant fling? How many young men risk their lives in the pursuit of a passing thrill of daredevil excitement and end up dead or crippled?

This saying warns us of the folly of a short-sighted action that will gain a little advantage but cost greatly in the long run. We are being urged to show some forethought and judgement in our actions lest they cost us dear



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He that hath some land must have some labour.

He that hath some land must have some labour.

Most of us are descended from people who worked on the land a few generations ago. Some would have been farm owners and some labourers and they had to co-operate to produce the harvest so that everyone could eat. A small farm would be worked by a single family. After the industrial revolution vast numbers of people were forced off the land and had to find employment elsewhere.

A generalisation from land and labour leads us to the idea of capitalists and workers and how to generate income. Capital takes many forms: money, land, machinery, buildings and even mental capital i.e. a good education or skill. But the thing all of these have in common is that they need to be used.

This saying is reminding us of the need to put in the effort and use our assets to best advantage.


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When fortune smiles, take advantage

When fortune smiles, take advantage.

Have you ever fished a spot many times and some days you catch nothing others your first cast is rewarded, and you soon have as big a catch as you wished for?

Chance or good luck plays its part in human endeavours - when the time is right it is easy to succeed. As Shakespeare said, "Their is a tide in the affairs of man which taken at the flood leads on to fortune". Being in the right place at the right time is often the key to success.

However, a fisherman without the right tackle and some experience in using it plus the accumulated wisdom of years is unlikely to catch any supper - even if the conditions are fortuitously ideal.

So it is important to be prepared and wait for the right moments to come along - when fortune smiles, be ready.


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A dead bee makes no honey.

A dead bee makes no honey.
Well, that is pretty obvious so just what is this saying trying to tell us? Bees are renowned for their industriousness, and people who work hard are often described as being "busy as a bee". Hard workers are generally praised, and very popular with their bosses, but is it an entirely good thing? Japanese people are regarded as some of the hardest-working people on the planet but in their vocabulary we find a word - Karoshi - meaning to work yourself to death. Dead workers, like dead bees, are not productive. So, perhaps this saying is telling us not to overdo things. "Moderation in all things", says another proverb and "A little goes a long way" is another. The conclusion would appear to be that work is good but should not be excessive - too much honey is probably bad for you anyway!

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In much corn there is some cockle.

In much corn there is some cockle.
The corn cockle is a weed identified with the Biblical tares. No doubt our agricultural ancestors would have been satisfied with this statement at face value being happy to see a good yield even if the crop had a drop of weeds among it. They might then have gone on to observe that persons of outstanding ability often had flaws, faults and follies that went with their greatness and realise the generality of what they had learned in the cornfield. It is rarely in life that anything is all good there is usually a downside that you have to put up with in order to get the benefits. In a modern field the weeds might have been suppressed by weed killer, but we then have to worry about pesticides in our food. It seems that perfection doesn't exist this side of Heaven.


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Labour as long lived; pray as ever dying.

Labour as long lived; pray as ever dying.
If you take this saying to heart you will always give of your best, knowing that effort today means reward tomorrow. People coming close to retirement might lose heart and wonder why they bother but this is likely to lead to depression and carelessness. Thus their standing with colleagues will diminish and much of the good work done in earlier years will be forgotten, and who knows, perhaps someone had them earmarked for an exciting opportunity in their leisured future.

For those who are religious this saying is probably easier to follow than those who see nothing beyond the grave. But we should all learn to think of the importance of the survival of the family, the tribe, the country, and the human race, and contribute to it as long as we can, knowing our work will be carried on by someone else. This way your declining years will still have hope and meaning.



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"Pray as ever dying" suggest the importance of being prepared for the eventuality of demise and putting your affairs in order. Follow this saying and you will fade away gradually and without remorse, like a glorious sunset.

Tie the sack before it fills.

Anyone bagging corn or flour would immediately understand the wisdom of this saying as it is necessary to have enough slack to gather together to allow the cord to get a grip. A greedy person who filled his sack to the top would be unable to close it, and spillage and spoilage would leave them with a lot less. Our farming ancestors would smile knowingly on hearing this observation.

So, what wisdom has it to teach us today? In general we are being told of the folly of trying to grab too much and being left with less. An example from the world of the stock market is the advice to always leave something for someone else - meaning sell out before the market tops - that way you are guaranteed a buyer.

People who build up a business are advised to have an exit strategy and not to wait till they are about to retire and then desperately seek to sell, and find it is a bad time as demand is currently low.

It could also suggest the idea of stopping eating before you are full and therefore avoiding a bad stomach and the dangers of obesity.

This all boils down to giving yourself time and opportunity to bring any activity to a sensible close, and not be caught short.




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In excess, nectar poisons.

You can have too much of a good thing is the lesson here. Most children learn the hard way that eating too much makes them sick. Just being told by their elders is never enough - it is the actual experience that teaches the best lesson.

The above applies to most if not all areas of human life. How often do we read of the rich person who has inherited a vast fortune, and has a totally miserable life? The excess of wealth becomes a burden to them and they are not constrained by lack of money in indulging their follies in the way the rest of us are.

Tell people that something is good for them and they will overdose on it. Exercise freaks will run till they develop fractures or suffer heart attacks. The counsel to practice moderation in all things is an excellent one. Addictions are numerous - we have alcoholics, gambling addicts, drug addicts, sexaholics - anything pleasurable seems to lead some individuals to excess. This should act as a warning to everyone else. Enough is as good as a feast.


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Men given to tears are good.

There has been a traditional image of western men as macho "John Wayne type" characters swaggering dry-eyed through life with weeping frail women clinging to their strong arm. In fact pioneering women in the Old West were probably as tough as old boots with little time for copious weeping.

So, is crying for men sissy, or just a natural phenomenon that has its place and purpose? As little children, boys cry as much as girls in order to alert their parents to hunger, discomfort and pain, but as we grow we begin to get criticism. "Don't be a cry baby". "Big boys don't cry". We come to regard ceasing to cry as being grown up. But is it a good thing to stifle tears? Medical opinion would appear to be that over-repressing emotions can lead to stress and heart attacks.

It seems that it really all depends on the type of crying - babyish whining in a grown man or woman is unbecoming, but real emotion expressed in a few tears communicates genuineness. Most adult males are moved to tears by severe emotional onslaughts such as the death of a close friend or relative, and, generally speaking, women are probably more given to expressing their feelings with tears.

Does this mean that a man who cries more easily than average is effeminate, or even cowardly, as some might imply? Well, this blog was inspired by Sir Winston Chuchill and he was regularly in tears. Now, who would say that someone who was involved in most of the wars of his century, took part in cavalry charges, rescued wounded soldiers from the Boers, escaped single-handedly from prisoner-of-war camp, and finally became the great hero who defeated the Nazis, was effeminate?

Strong men can have strong emotions and a few tears show how genuine they are. The important thing is that tears should not stop a man from doing his duty. Who cares if a hero's eyes are full of tears as he saves the day - better a wet-eyed saviour than a dry-eyed skulk.


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Love makes passion, but money makes marriage

This old French proverb" L'amour fait rage, mait l'argent fait marriage" could be the gold digger's favorite saying but it makes a lot of sense. In days gone by in the western world (as in some eastern countries today) marriages were contracted for mutual advantage of the families involved - love came by chance if at all.
Some people say that all the secret passages in old castles were not so much for escaping your enemies but were mostly used by those in lovelorn marriages slipping off to their lovers. Today most people fall in love and worry about the practical problems later. Marriage for many is a non starter.
If we were perfectly balanced people our reasoning half would insist on putting the practical foundations of life in order first i.e. job, steady income, place to live, before allowing emotions any freedom, but most people want love to spring into their lives uninvited and to carry them off in a torrent of passion with fate left to take care of the nitty-gritty. Nice work if you can get it!


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You may gape long enough ere a bird fall into your mouth.

Looking and wishing will not get you very far if you really want something you need to put in the effort to get it. Too many people spend their lives waiting for something good to happen and end up disappointed. So how do you get going? Shakespeare said "There is a tide in the affairs of man, which, taken at the flood, leads on to success". Getting you timing right is essential for most enterprises: "Sow when dry, set when wet" our agricultural ancestors would murmur, or note: "The early bird gets the worm". Lessons from nature are all around us and from time to time someone crystallises them into a saying or proverb. Stay alert, be active seek wisdom and one day you might discover your own proverb, to be passed down the generations. Standing gaping will not get you very far.


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Knowledge is a treasure, but practise is the key to it.

To anyone struggling to play a musical instrument this is painfully obvious. The treasure houses of knowledge are usually very well fortified and to gain entry and enjoy the good things within takes time and regular effort. People are not born wise, "you cannot put a young head on old shoulders". Nowadays with the Internet knowledge is everywhere and available at the click of a button but in order for it to be of any use it is necessary to be selective and to work regularly at absorbing facts and methods into the mind. Only then will you have the key to unlock the treasure chests of knowledge and gain the many benefits of attainment.


Know the USA
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Those who make best use of their time have none to spare.

A lack of time seems to be a modern complaint - we have romantic images of a bucolic past when everyone had loads of time to chat with neighbors, potter in the garden and leisurely chew on a straw. This old saying appears to suggest otherwise - for busy people lack of time has always been a problem.

Another saying "Work expands to fill the time allocated to it" is supposed to be a practise of the lazy who will dawdled and delay until the last minute and then complain of a lack of time. So there appears to be two types of people who are short of time - the over workers and the under workers - but how does the ordinary individual with a balanced approach to life cope with time management? Do proverbs give us any guidance?

Well how about: "Don't bite off more than you can chew"? Keep your workload to sensible levels and learn your limits and try to work within them.

"Don't put off till tomorrow what you can do today". Work efficiently and don't let small tasks accumulate. Try to deal with them as they come up if possible - visiting the same task twice is a waste of time.
"Lost time is never found again" This we all know but is a reminder to use time effectively.

"Where there's a will there's a way" Many an individual has pitted their wits against a problem when all others have passed it by and eventually they have succeeded but the cost in time is usually great. Be determined but be wary of pigheadedness leading you to horrendous time costs. Even if you do succeed will it be worth it?

"Time and tide wait for no man" This being so it is essential to be like the Boy Scout and "be prepared" so that your precious time is used as it should. Having to go back to base because you have forgotten a tool etc. wastes everybody's time.

"Time brings roses" Most worthwhile things take time and we need to cultivate patience. Waiting for something can be agonising, especially for the young who are often wishing their time away, but whilst waiting for a main event try filling in the gaps with something useful. Having an improving book to hand helps to use spare moments productively as they come up.

Time destroys all things" As we grow older we realise that our time is limited and we often wish we had spent it more wisely - there seemed so much of it when we were young. Change is constant and we see the things that were an important part of our life fade and disappear. Time never stands still and where there is time there is change.

"Time is money" This saying is a rod for our backs. Self-employed people soon realise the truth of this and it can drive some people to wreck their health whilst it spurs others to wealth achievement and fulfilment. Don't let it become your master.

Time is the great teacher. How often do we wish we had known something when we were young? Some lessons are painfully learned over a period of time and the realisation that, if only you had had the right instruction much of the pain could have been avoided, can be quite bitter.

"Time is the rider that breaks in youth". This is much the same as above - with the passing of time we experience and learn often from "the school of hard knocks".

"Time tries truth" Things we believed in passionately in youth can seem less certain with age and experience. Mass movements that enthral a generation can seem clearly flawed to the next one. With the passing of time and new perspectives apparent certainties crumble to dust and blow away on the wind of knowledge and understanding.

"Time passes, sayings endure" This is surely one to end on. Use your time wisely - you only get one allocation!


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He that counts all costs will never put plough to earth.

Our agricultural forebears would have known the literal wisdom of this observation. Today it might apply to starting a business where looking at all the things that might go wrong would put you off. At some point it is necessary for most undertakings to assess the risk and be prepared to accept that though there is a reasonable chance of success a possibility of failure exists. No enterprise is a sure thing we must have a little courage and accept the costs and problems that come along.


Due to time pressures this blog will change from daily to weekly.




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None so well shod but they may slip.

You can take all the right precautions but the unexpected can take you by surprise. This sounds like an advert for insurance and it is an awareness of unlikely accidents that presumably motivates most people to consider a suitable policy. In the modern world where we rely on our computers this leads us to think of the importance of keeping good backup. Expecting the unexpected constantly could drive a person to a nervous breakdown so common sense is required. The worst rarely happens but some sensible precautions can give peace of mind.




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A whet is no let

This is a saying our agricultural ancestors would have understood. Stopping to sharpen the scythe with a whetstone increases cutting efficiency and boosts production. How many times in our lives do we struggle on with the equivalent of a blunt scythe? An old computer with a clogged hard drive or out of date software reduces our production in the same way great granddad might have hashed away with his blunt scythe. Taking the time to review your working efficiency and improve it could mean an overall gain. So don't swear at your tools - find the equivalent of a whetstone and make them sharp again.


A whetstone?
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A beard well lathered is half shaved.

Literally this is perfectly true as anyone who has had to shave without soap will testify. Here we are being counselled to follow the Boy Scout motto of "Be Prepared" The importance of good preparation in all walks of life cannot be over stressed. If you acquire the correct information, clean and sharpen your tools, have all the materials you need to hand, and work to a methodical, well thought out plan, any job should go smoothly and efficiently. This applies in the practical world as well as the realms of intellectual endeavour.


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The dog gnaws the bone because he cannot swallow it.

A first sight this seems so obvious that it is hardly worth stating but as usual with proverbs there is more to it than meets the eye. When a job, task or problem is too great the thing to do is to break it down to its component parts and deal with them bit by bit. Another saying echoing this idea is "Don't bite off more than you can chew". If you have ever been confronted by a mountain of work and left it alone because it seemed so overwhelming you need to learn to "gnaw" at it. Each part is probably fairly easy and with a regular systematic approach the job will soon be done. As the Scots say: "Many a mickle maks a muckle."


Keep track of your bones?
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He that is too secure is not .

This is a warning against complacency. If everything in your life is going along quite happily you forget that there are many dangers and difficulties lurking in the background. A spell of excellent weather leads to an assumption that the next day will be the same as the last. If your old reliable car has never given any trouble you get to assuming that it will always start. If there has never been a burglary in your neighbourhood you stop thinking of the possibility. It is therefore a good practice to give some thought to things going wrong and be prepared for the eventuality. It doesn't do to go over the top and worry about every little thing - sensible precautions looked over regularly will bring peace of mind and more real security.



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A friend's frown is better than a fool's smile.

When someone smiles we take it as a sign that they are well inclined towards us and this usually makes us happy. Frowns have the opposite effect. Smiles are encouraging, frowns discouraging. A fool's smile might therefore encourage us to do the wrong thing and a friend's frown might discourage us from the wrong thing. Recognising life's cues and signals and judging them correctly helps to sort the successful from the failures. Good advice, even if it isn't what you want to hear, is better than bad advice or encouragement which is going to lead you astray. So when your friends frown pay heed or the fools will end up laughing at you.


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The fool wanders far, the wise man travels.

To get where you want to be it is a good thing to know the route and to plan your journey. Aimless wandering might enable you to stumble across a suitable place but it is a highly inefficient method. Journeys are not just travel across the globe, we make many journeys in life: from birth to death, from ignorance to wisdom, from poverty to riches, from loneliness to love. This proverb tells us to be methodical, find a "map" and seek good counsel before embarking on any of life's journeys. Having noted all that, a life without a little aimless wandering would perhaps be a bit boring; after all some of the best discoveries in science and elsewhere have come by chance but the prepared mind can spot their value and take action.



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He that stumbles and falls not, mends his pace.

This is all about learning from experience. Most young people who have passed their driving test will have a scary moment - perhaps cornering too quickly and losing control. This, at worst, can result in a fatality but hopefully it is just sufficient to give them a good fright from which they learn a very real lesson. Humans, as well as other animals, tend to learn from actual examples - does anyone ever understand that fire burns just by being told? Metaphorically people can "burn their fingers" in many ways: rash stock market investment, dangerous sports, failed business ventures, soured relationships - an endless list. The important thing is to learn from experience and grow wise before a real disaster gets you. If you stumble, mend your pace!



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Light your lamp before it becomes dark.

This Arabic proverb echoes the basic idea of many other sayings that urge us to be prepared for eventualities. Try fumbling around in the dark for your flint and tinder and you would soon understand the wisdom of this. Good planning and preparation are essential for a well ordered life. "Have not your cloak to make when it starts to rain" covers the same idea. Like all proverbs it has other depths of meaning. On a spiritual plane we are being cautioned to prepare ourselves for death whilst the light of life still burns. On a practical level this might lead you to make a will so that your wishes are followed rather than leaving a mess for expensive lawyers to sort out. "A little forethought saves much afterthought" so make a habit of lighting your lamp before it is dark.



"You are nearest to God in a garden"
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Fall not out with a friend for a trifle.

Have you ever fallen out with a friend over a silly argument and found yourself in a vicious spiral? When love turns to hate it can be particularly venomous. If you see that this is about to happen it might pay you to consider apologising if you were at fault and even if you were not it could be better to make a sacrifice and accept the blame in order to protect a friendship that is worth preserving - that is a heroic thing to do. The power of Christianity and other great religions often comes from an innocent taking the sins of others on their shoulders - that is true courage and will eventually win respect.

A disease known is half cured.

If you know what you are dealing with you can then spend energy on hunting the solution. This applies in medicine but also in other walks of life where problems must be solved. In an exam many students who know the answer cannot give it because they don't understand the question. Focus your attention on getting a clear grasp of any problem that confronts you and with that squarely in mind you will begin to see where to look for answers.


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The lower millstone grinds as well as the upper.

The top dog in any organisation might think that he is the most important person there but without his subordinates he would be impotent. This saying is reminding us that most successes are made from team work and all levels of an group contribute to the overall achievement. It encourages mutual respect for the participants of any combination of peoples for a common goal. So don't grind your workers underfoot learn to grind together and there will be plenty of flour for all.



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The eye is bigger than the belly

No, this is not describing a circus freak show from a bygone age, we deal here with the human instinct to overindulge. Everyone learns in infancy that cramming in too much food results in sickness and pain but do we learn? Usually for a while we are wiser but the temptation slips back in as the memory of painful spewing retreats. Over indulgence is not confined just to food - humans, given the chance, will drink to excess, gamble to ruination or accumulate wealth to obscene unnecessary lengths. The problem is we don't know when to stop. The acquisition instinct seems to be powered by our imaginations and sense of insecurity. Self-discipline is a desirable trait to develop but most people seem to need pain or fear to remind them of the folly of overdoing it. "A little of what you fancy does you good" but don't let your eye get bigger than your belly.


For an overindulgent PC
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To spare at the spigot and let run at the bung.

Carefully measuring off wine at the tap whilst it is has an unchecked, leaky bung is an obvious folly but how many times do we do the equivalent without noticing? Are you penny wise and pound foolish? Do you fuss a lot with minor detail and ignore major problems lurking in the background? The general who prides himself on the appearance of his troops but neglects to train them in their core skills will lose the battle. The businessman who constantly counts his money but neglects to get customers in and sell will go bust. There is a need to keep things in proportion and take an overall view of your activities. Are you focussing on the right areas? Are their growing problems developing in the background? By all means be spare at the spigot but watch out for that leaking bung!


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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!".


Garden Memories
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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!

Garden Journal etc..
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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.


Limericks
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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.

Bury your bones here!
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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".

Keen gardeners might like to look at this:

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