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".