Favourite Proverbs - Science Fiction Fantasy Chronicles: forums

alex22 · 14th March 2006, 12:29 PM

I had a discussion the other day with a few of my mates about proverbs. Whenever i think of the word proverb i always think of Chinese ones( at least i think they're Chinese ). eg. what is the sound of one hand clapping, tree falls in the woods....etc

I got to thinking there must be hundreds out there. So, Id like to hear what your favourite is....

Adasunshine · 14th March 2006, 12:43 PM

One that is too true and often proved right in my house....

Too many cooks spoil the broth

xx

Winters_Sorrow · 14th March 2006, 01:09 PM

My favourite?

Look before you leap...

polymath · 14th March 2006, 02:07 PM

Heh, that's funny Winters Sorrow, me too. Me and the wife often sign off e-mails to each other with LBYL, or say it before we leave the house...a very useful piece of advice. smilie.

GrownUp · 14th March 2006, 03:42 PM

This may not be a proverb or anything like it, but you know when you are little and you yawn without covering your mouth, and a grown-up says:
'Here comes a bus'?
I used to love that. It was funny.

chrispenycate · 14th March 2006, 03:47 PM

La nuit
Tout les chats sont gris
(all cats are grey in the dark)

Because it's so splendidly, utterly wrong.

dwndrgn · 14th March 2006, 03:50 PM

If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.

Sad, but true.

and it's mate:

If 'if' was a fifth, we'd all be drunk.

littlemissattitude · 14th March 2006, 05:50 PM

"Can't never could do nothing."

Texas proverb, I think, told to me by a neighbor when I was a teenager; it's what she told her young kids all the time, when they'd say, "I can't....".

scalem X · 14th March 2006, 06:31 PM

Quote:

I had a discussion the other day with a few of my mates about proverbs. Whenever i think of the word proverb i always think of Chinese ones( at least i think they're Chinese ). eg. what is the sound of one hand clapping, tree falls in the woods....etc

Mmm yes and no. In Ts'ao-tung Buddhism(Japanese: Soto buddhism), with these "proverbs as you call them" or kung-an (Japanese: koan). They used to think/now still think of these while meditating, so that they would in the end find enlightment.
Through tso-ch'an (Japanese: Zazen) or sitting meditation, these proverbs are not really used as proverbs, but rather as tools to meditate towards the path of enlightment.
Chinese has other Sayings, most of them conclusions from ancient stories; like:
"Three persons talking about a tiger makes it real" (from the story of P'ang Ts'ung)

sanityassassin · 14th March 2006, 06:39 PM

people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones

and a sort of joke one, time and tide wait for no-one and neither do trains or buses

weaveworld · 14th March 2006, 06:51 PM

He who laughs last, doesn't get the joke

steve12553 · 15th March 2006, 01:10 AM

I can't think of any that aren't inappropriate.

polymath · 15th March 2006, 10:24 AM

I like this one, even though I made it up myself, and it's probably more of a tautology than anything else:
Luck favours the fortunate.

Adasunshine · 15th March 2006, 10:26 AM

Marry in haste, repent at leisure

Makes me laugh!

There are loads on this site... http://www.saidwhat.co.uk/proverbs/

Some wonderful ones and some I just don't get...

xx

WizardofOwls · 15th March 2006, 11:06 AM

An old Scottish proverb:

The shallowest streams make the most noise.

14th March 2006, 12:29 PM	#1 (permalink)
alex22 Just call me Lucky Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Australia Posts: 51	Favourite Proverbs I had a discussion the other day with a few of my mates about proverbs. Whenever i think of the word proverb i always think of Chinese ones( at least i think they're Chinese ). eg. what is the sound of one hand clapping, tree falls in the woods....etc I got to thinking there must be hundreds out there. So, Id like to hear what your favourite is....

14th March 2006, 12:43 PM	#2 (permalink)
Adasunshine Everything in Moderation Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Wiltshire Posts: 1,077	Re: Favourite Proverbs One that is too true and often proved right in my house.... Too many cooks spoil the broth xx

14th March 2006, 01:09 PM	#3 (permalink)
Winters_Sorrow Unreg. Mutant Moderator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Tyne and Wear Posts: 3,211	Re: Favourite Proverbs My favourite? Look before you leap...

14th March 2006, 02:07 PM	#4 (permalink)
polymath The Reimkennar Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Greater Manchester Posts: 147	Re: Favourite Proverbs Heh, that's funny Winters Sorrow, me too. Me and the wife often sign off e-mails to each other with LBYL, or say it before we leave the house...a very useful piece of advice. smilie.

14th March 2006, 03:42 PM	#5 (permalink)
GrownUp Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Greater London Posts: 489	Re: Favourite Proverbs This may not be a proverb or anything like it, but you know when you are little and you yawn without covering your mouth, and a grown-up says: 'Here comes a bus'? I used to love that. It was funny.

14th March 2006, 03:47 PM	#6 (permalink)
chrispenycate resident pedantissimo Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Switzerland Posts: 5,371 Blog Entries: 9	Re: Favourite Proverbs La nuit Tout les chats sont gris (all cats are grey in the dark) Because it's so splendidly, utterly wrong.

14th March 2006, 03:50 PM	#7 (permalink)
dwndrgn Fierce Vowelless One Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Florida Posts: 3,823	Re: Favourite Proverbs If wishes were horses, beggars would ride. Sad, but true. and it's mate: If 'if' was a fifth, we'd all be drunk.

14th March 2006, 05:50 PM	#8 (permalink)
littlemissattitude Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: California Posts: 3,576 Blog Entries: 9	Re: Favourite Proverbs "Can't never could do nothing." Texas proverb, I think, told to me by a neighbor when I was a teenager; it's what she told her young kids all the time, when they'd say, "I can't....".

14th March 2006, 06:39 PM	#10 (permalink)
sanityassassin he's the madcap pusher Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: West Dunbartonshire Posts: 785	Re: Favourite Proverbs people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones and a sort of joke one, time and tide wait for no-one and neither do trains or buses

14th March 2006, 06:51 PM	#11 (permalink)
weaveworld ~Behold my sparklies!~ Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Dunbartonshire Posts: 588	Re: Favourite Proverbs He who laughs last, doesn't get the joke

15th March 2006, 01:10 AM	#12 (permalink)
steve12553 The Enigma of Steel Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Mississippi Posts: 1,254 Blog Entries: 16	Re: Favourite Proverbs I can't think of any that aren't inappropriate.

15th March 2006, 10:24 AM	#13 (permalink)
polymath The Reimkennar Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Greater Manchester Posts: 147	Re: Favourite Proverbs I like this one, even though I made it up myself, and it's probably more of a tautology than anything else: Luck favours the fortunate.

15th March 2006, 10:26 AM	#14 (permalink)
Adasunshine Everything in Moderation Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Wiltshire Posts: 1,077	Re: Favourite Proverbs Marry in haste, repent at leisure Makes me laugh! There are loads on this site... http://www.saidwhat.co.uk/proverbs/ Some wonderful ones and some I just don't get... xx

15th March 2006, 11:06 AM	#15 (permalink)
WizardofOwls King of Typos Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 252	Re: Favourite Proverbs An old Scottish proverb: The shallowest streams make the most noise.

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