@Mictorrani
edited
Proverbs - Some Favourites
When I wrote the article preceding this, "Make a Distinction Between Quotes & Proverbs, and Attribute Properly!", it was because I saw so many unattributed quotes. The point with that article was to encourage correct attribution. I included one proverb and a couple of quotes, only as an illustration. However, some readers appreciated the examples and asked me to provide more proverbs. So, I will present some of my favourite proverbs here. In a subsequent article, I likewise present some - in my opinion - good quotes. https://read.cash/@Mictorrani/make-a-distinction-between-quotes-proverbs-and-attribute-properly-3d60ac3c https://read.cash/@Mictorrani/some-favourite-quotes-74e09ee3#comment-faf5879a What is a Proverb? If you are like me, you find good proverbs to be fascinating. But why is that? Why do we feel this “Well said!” within ourselves when we face a concisely phrased proverb? To me, it is an experience of beauty to face a general truth expressed in a short and elegant manner, a universal truth stripped down to bare essentials, often expressed metaphorically. A genuine proverb conveys truly universal wisdom about human nature or human life. *“A stitch in time saves nine”* or *“Don't count your chickens before they hatch”* are not about chickens or sewing. These are just metaphors to express something far more general. The true meanings of these proverbs are universally valid. Another important property of proverbs is that they have no known original author, they are traditional sayings without source. Not everyone agrees to this, but considers as proverbs certain sayings from for instance Plato, Confucius, Shakespeare or the Bible. I would rather call the latter proverb-like quotes. It is hard to define exactly what a proverb is. Indeed, it differs between different languages, different times and different individuals. Miguel de Cervantes said that "A proverb is a short sentence based on long experience." But let's not dwell more on that. Now it is time to enjoy the timeless beauty and the wisdom of proverbs. (The first one is the same as in the article prior to this. It's one of my absolute favourites, so I could not hold myself from including it here as well.) Some of My Favourites “What you see in yourself is what you see in the world." (Proverb from Afghanistan) “Life is so short we must move very slowly.” (Proverb from Thailand) "To get lost is to learn the way." [Kupoteya njia ndiyo kujua njia.] (Kiswahili Proverb) "There is no shame in not knowing; the shame lies in not finding out." (Russian Proverb) "The talented hawk hides its claws." (Japanese Proverb) "One who proves too much, proves nothing" [Qui nimium probat, nihil probat] (Latin Proverb) "However many types of hunting a hunter knows, a bear knows just as many escape routes." (Turkish Proverb) "The barking of a dog does not disturb the man on a camel." (Egyptian Proverb) "Sweep first before your own door, before you sweep the doorsteps of your neighbours." (Swedish Proverb) "Nature does nothing in vain" [Natura nihil fit in frustra] (Latin Proverb) "Goodness speaks in a whisper, evil shouts." (Proverb from Tibet) If you have other favourite proverbs, please share them in the comments. Related article: *"**Some Favourite Quotes**".* https://read.cash/@Mictorrani/some-favourite-quotes-74e09ee3#comment-faf5879a Copyright © 2020 Meleonymica/Mictorrani. All Rights Reserved. (If you liked this, please consider leaving a tip, either here or via **CoinTr.ee**) https://cointr.ee/mictorrani If you are interested in words and expressions, join my community *The Power of Words (4be2)*. https://read.cash/c/the-power-of-words-4be2 You find all my writings on Read.Cash, sorted by topic, *here*. https://read.cash/@Mictorrani/my-available-writings-at-readcash-8faf12d8
19 comments
Empty words dont fill the stomach..this is an Turkish proverb😁
It's good.
These are very good proverbs @Mictorrani. I have not read any of them before and so, these are new proverbs for me. The last proverb from Tibet is very powerful in my opinion, as well as the ones from Afganistan, Kiswahili, Russia and Swedish. Thank you for sharing this.
My pleasure. I hope they can inspire some of you.
I like a lot of proverbs. For example "A better sparrow in the handful than a pigeon on the roof." "Don't do to others what you don't want others to do to you." "As you call into the forest, so it echoes out." "The jug is carrying water for as long as the handle is not broken." The big problem is that the proverbs are not so easy to translate. The translation gives the meaning of the proverb, but it sounds worse. Proverbs can often only be translated in the sense of their meaning.
Yes, you are right. A powerful proverb in original often has a poetic, almost musical quality, using poetic meter or alliteration, etc. That is lost in a translation.
>"There is no shame in not knowing; the shame lies in not finding out." I like this one. There are many people shy to ask questions regarding something they know nothing about without even knowing that it'll just make them more ignorant to that thing.
Yes, they don't want to admit that they don't know, so instead they stay ignorant.
pride... That's why. But it's not always about feeding your ego.. You will be more proud if you know better, right?
I would rather say that it is a matter of prestige than pride. But yes, I think we mean the same thing.
These are really nice proverbs To get lost is to learn the way indeed.
It reflects the reality of life..and we need proverbs to remind ourselves how we have to lead our everyday lives
Yes, principles for how to live. Some of them, anyway.
However many types of hunting a hunter knows, a bear knows just a s many escape routes. I like that one
Interesting
>“What you see in yourself is what you see in the world." Interesting, it's nice to read different kind of proverb in different countries, those really motivating but this one is really caught my attention.
Yes. Your self-image shapes your view of the world.
Hello @Mictorrani, it is good to have some time to be able to catch up on all your new articles. I really enjoyed this one; especially the Tibetan proverb you have chosen: "Goodness speaks in a whisper, evil shouts.".......a message for our times. Really like the logo by the way and thank you for the upvote. Very much appreciated. All the best,
You're most welcome. One of my most loyal readers. The logo, yeah... I was thinking much of that before deciding what I wanted. You're the first to comment it.