Quotable Quotes: Pithy Proverbs 1
by Miki Saxon
Do you like proverbs? I do, not the religious kind, but what the Encyclopedia Britannica describes as “succinct and pithy sayings that are in general use and express commonly held ideas and beliefs.” So I thought I’d share some of the lesser known ones every now and then.
It is said that a drop of ink may make a million think, but these days it sometimes feels as if the drops that stimulate are on the wane. Or maybe it’s just that so much that is written fits what a friend calls ‘institutionalized inanity’.
A person who can smile when things go wrong has found someone to blame it on is one thing that hasn’t changed and can frequently be seen in news casts, the workplace, and most other settings.
Speaking of work, here are two descriptions of the kind of boss who is guaranteed to spend a great deal of time hiring. To wit, a man of words and not of deeds is like a garden full of weeds and a man that breaks his word bids other be false to him.
Whereas a boss who cares know that a handful of patience is worth more than a bushel of brains and will spend far more time mentoring people than replacing them.
Then there are those folks that we all put up with; you know, the ones that know nothing, but talk constantly. This proverb describes them perfectly, a fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions. And just in case this shoe occasionally fits you, try and avoid putting it on very often.
Finally, considering the effect bankers have had on our poor world, I couldn’t resist including this definition, a banker is a fellow who lends you his umbrella when the sun is shining, but wants it back the minute it begins to rain. Oh, so true.
Flickr image credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/carbonnyc/1617833195/
