As They Say In Zanzibar
Of the many books that I picked up during the holiday sales, there was one with "proverbial wisdom from around the world." I have a random selection of them and I figured that y'all would get a kick out of some of them.
A reasonable amount of fleas is good for a dog; they keep him from broodin' on being a dog. USA
Small cares make many words, great ones are mute. Germany
Sadness is a valuable treasure, only discovered in people you love. Madagascar
Friendship is steps. Kenya
A single bracelet doesn't jingle. Guinea
Before going to war, say one prayer; before going to sea, two; before getting married, three. Poland
Dress slowly when you are in a hurry. France
The one who seeks revenge should remember to dig two graves. China
The one who asks a question is a fool for five minutes; the one who does not ask a question is a fool forever. China
The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago; the second-best time is now. China
Only with a new ruler do you appreciate the value of the old. Myanmar
To open a shop is easy; to keep it open is an art. China
No doctor is better than three. Germany
Fools seldom differ. England
Source: As They Say In Zanzibar (Link) by David Crystal
5 comments:
Uber neat! Here's a thought...saying of the day....
Too cheeseball???
...The best time to plant a tree...
ha, that one made me laugh out loud.
I liked this one too:
The one who asks a question is a fool for five minutes; the one who does not ask a question is a fool forever.
Saying of the Day...yeah, no. I can be quite cheesy (and corny) but I'll probably just post more of these in groups once in a while.
As for my own thoughts on a few of these...
Fleas on a dog...I just think it's funny and southern.
Great cares and sadness...shows the depth of a friendship.
Single bracelet...anyone get that?
Dress slowly...this certainly applies to designing software. It's like driving fast 'cause you're late and getting a speeding ticket, thus making you slower. Errors are multiplied if we rush too much.
Myanmar...the grass isn't greener. Especially true for people changing jobs.
Three doctors...as I said before, death by committee.
Planting trees...I agree with SB, it made me laugh out loud. That was the one that made me want to write this post in the first place.
Of my selections, China seems to be the wisest country.
You wrote:
Single bracelet...anyone get that?
Hmmm...takes two to tango? Nah...I think it means that two heads are better than one or...jingle...that can be turned around to be sexual you know, with the jingle and all - there are many possible interpretations. Oh and if you're East or West Indian it might mean literally that bangles are better by the dozen! Probably cheaper too!
Interesting blog --
Friendship -- steps -- true of all relationships. Even after 20 years of marriage, my husband and I are still growing in both friendship and love.
Cares and Sadness -- In close friendship (as opposed to just polite company), there is a willingness to share the great cares. Small cares are easy to share. They don't challenge us. With true friendship comes the trust to let the other see the great cares and the sadness that accompanies them. That takes love - true friends love each. Such sadness and hurt doesn't need as many words to express because the true friend is allowing the tears to say what words can't express.
Prayers -- Marriage requires more prayers because it is the only circumstance that we give everything to another person -- our intellect, our heart and our bodies. The pain, in the event of failure, is so much deeper.
Bracelet -- oh, if I were a preacher and using that as a metaphor ... just me, alone, am silent. Add God's Word, prayer and praise in worship. Then, add rejection, criticism, physical pain, struggle to achieve,losing someone special, etc. Throw in a shared prayer, a listening ear, a hug, a smile, etc. The result is music to God's ears -- better than the silence of one trying to it all alone.
Sherry
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