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Topic: Dueling Proverbs

KarlEd
Member
Member # 571

posted

(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
Member
Member # 3403

posted

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

"Fortune favors the bold."

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JonnyNotSoBravo
Member
Member # 5715

posted

"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
Member
Member # 5527

posted

"Many hands make light work"

"Too many cooks spoil the broth"

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Corwin
Member
Member # 5705

posted

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
Member
Member # 5715

posted

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
Member
Member # 4700

posted

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
Member
Member # 3162

posted

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
Member
Member # 5818

posted

"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
Member
Member # 3162

posted

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

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jeniwren
Member
Member # 2002

posted

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
Member
Member # 3162

posted

Is that against the rules? [Confused]

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rivka
Member
Member # 4859

posted

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
Member
Member # 5818

posted

That's the central theme of Lord of the Rings, too, rivka. [Smile]

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TheHumanTarget
Member
Member # 7129

posted

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
Member
Member # 7249

posted

Birds of a feather flock together.

Opposites attract.

Posts: 1163 | Registered: Jan 2005 | IP: Logged |

TheHumanTarget
Member
Member # 7129

posted

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
Member
Member # 3162

posted

Bah. Dang apologists.

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Shan
Member
Member # 4550

posted

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
Member
Member # 6877

posted

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
Member
Member # 926

posted

Ignorance is bliss.

Knowledge is power.

* * *

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Don't eat the yellow snow.

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Lady Jane
Member
Member # 7249

posted

quote:
Ignorance is bliss.

Knowledge is power.

These can both be true. [Smile]

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vwiggin
Member
Member # 926

posted

*throws yellow snow*

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Dagonee
Member
Member # 5818

posted

Ignorance is bliss.

Don't eat the yellow snow.

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vwiggin
Member
Member # 926

posted

mmmmmm.... salty goodness....

[Laugh]

Dag

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rivka
Member
Member # 4859

posted

You can't take it with you.

He who dies with the most toys wins.

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JonnyNotSoBravo
Member
Member # 5715

posted

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
Administrator
Member # 12343

posted

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
Member
Member # 9334

posted

Every cloud has a silver lining.

An ape in silk is still an ape.

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Elison R. Salazar
Member
Member # 8565

posted

"A hen in hand is worth a rooster out back."

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PSI Teleport
Member
Member # 5545

posted

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
Member
Member # 3192

posted

Too many chefs and not enough indians?

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