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» Hatrack River Forum » Active Forums » Books, Films, Food and Culture » Dueling Proverbs

   
Author Topic: Dueling Proverbs
KarlEd
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(Inspired by a link from another thread).

Let's list proverbs that seem to contradict (or at least temper) one another. For example:

"Absence makes the heart grow fonder" vs. "Out of sight, out of mind"

or

"He who hesitates is lost" vs. "Haste makes waste"

Any others you can think of?

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Beren One Hand
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"Only a fool tests the depth of the water with both feet."

"Fortune favors the bold."

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JonnyNotSoBravo
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"A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush"

"The grass is always greeener on the other side"

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hugh57
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"Many hands make light work"

"Too many cooks spoil the broth"

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Corwin
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quote:
The grass is always greeener on the other side.
Actually I'm not very sure about this one. To me, it shows our inability to see that what we have is good. It's more of an ironic proverb than a true one. So if you see it like I do it actually states the same idea as the previous one. But that's just my opinion.
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JonnyNotSoBravo
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Well Corwin, to me they are opposites. One is stating that we should be happy with what we've got("a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush"), and the other is stating that we always think our neighbor has something better("the grass is always greener on the other side"). Hope this explanation helps!

Edit: ya know, after thinking about it I actually think you're right, Corwin. They do seem to mean the same thing. Guess I was just holding onto it too long. Let me amend it to "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush" and "Fortune favors the bold"

[ March 19, 2005, 05:12 AM: Message edited by: JonnyNotSoBravo ]

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Raia
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quote:
"Many hands make light work"

"Too many cooks spoil the broth"

I was SO going to post this one.
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Icarus
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I agree with Corwin's interpretation.

-o-

"Ask and ye shall receive."

"God helps those that help themselves."

-o-

"A friend in need is a friend indeed" the way that E. D. Hirsch interprets it

vs.

"A friend in need is a friend indeed" the way that I interpret it

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Dagonee
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"Love is all you need."

vs.

"What is best in life? To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of the women!"

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Icarus
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No fair, Dag. You can't make them up yourself! [No No]

[Wink]

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jeniwren
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quote:
"Ask and ye shall receive."

"God helps those that help themselves."

Which is really the Bible vs. Benjamin Franklin. [Smile]
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Icarus
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Is that against the rules? [Confused]
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rivka
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Actually, I don't see a contradiction between "Ask and ye shall receive" and "God helps those who help themselves."

It doesn't say you should ask and then sit around doing nothing! What's wrong with both asking AND doing your part? To quote Rav Hillel (in Pirkei Avot, the Ethics of the Fathers), "It's not upon you to complete the task, but neither may you shirk it."

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Dagonee
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That's the central theme of Lord of the Rings, too, rivka. [Smile]
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TheHumanTarget
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One must be poor to know the luxury of giving.

Be rich to yourself and poor to your friends.

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Lady Jane
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Birds of a feather flock together.

Opposites attract.

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TheHumanTarget
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Call on God, but row away from the rocks. <---One of my absolute favorites...

I don't have an opposite one, but it's great.

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Icarus
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Bah. Dang apologists.
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Shan
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Beauty is as beauty does.

Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman without good sense.

HAH!

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ketchupqueen
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Neither a borrower nor a lender be.

He who gives to the poor lends to the Lord.

Okay, I guess it's not really opposites. Ignore that, then. [Blushing]

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vwiggin
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Ignorance is bliss.

Knowledge is power.

* * *

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Don't eat the yellow snow.

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Lady Jane
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quote:
Ignorance is bliss.

Knowledge is power.

These can both be true. [Smile]
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vwiggin
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*throws yellow snow*
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Dagonee
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Ignorance is bliss.

Don't eat the yellow snow.

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vwiggin
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mmmmmm.... salty goodness....

[Laugh] Dag

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rivka
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You can't take it with you.

He who dies with the most toys wins.

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JonnyNotSoBravo
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Continuing to do the same thing and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity.

If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.

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JanitorBlade
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Well, if we are resurrecting old threads,

Those two are thick as thieves.

There is no honor among thieves.

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Sean Monahan
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Every cloud has a silver lining.

An ape in silk is still an ape.

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Elison R. Salazar
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"A hen in hand is worth a rooster out back."
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PSI Teleport
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That one kind of pisses me off. So the hen is inherently less valuable than the rooster, even though it makes eggs every day? [Smile]
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Glenn Arnold
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Too many chefs and not enough indians?
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