Proverbs

[Bouncing Bill 74]

I like proverbs of all kinds, those small sentences containing a nugget of truth. There are 31 chapters in Proverbs in the Old Testament. Read one chapter a day corresponding to the date of the month and everyday you will find something that applies to your life that day. For instance, verse 34 & 35of Chapter 8 says, Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord. That proverb speaks to me today, the 8th of February. Try it, it will benefit you.

Every culture had its proverbs and probably every areas of life. I ran across on this morning in the world of investing I though was quite interesting. It read; "Buy on rumor, sell on news." Investors and, thus, the market, is always looking forward. Rumors of what might be prompts smart money to buy and when new is published that future is now and it is time to sell.

Interestingly there are proverbs that contradict each o \ther, but are still both true in their own way. I'll give an example, also from the world of investing and other areas of life.

1. Don't put all your eggs in one basket.

2. Put all your eggs in one basket and really watch that basket.

Do you have any proverbs that you especially like?

[Hugh_Flower 34]

I try to read them daily. I cycle through then in correlation with a new psalm every time I read.

 

I don't hold much value if any in most of the worlds proverbs, because my mind says they are situational at best.

[HappyChristian 3,684]

I love the book of Proverbs! I used to go through it monthly, but now don't every month. However, I still love to read it. I like other proverbs as well, especially those that have a biblical truth to them.

"Two wrongs don't make a right."

"No man is an island."

"The squeaky wheel gets the grease."  I use this one often. =D

"Better late than never." I heard a nice addition to this years ago: "But better never late."

"There's no such thing as a free lunch."

"Discretion is the better part of valor."

Just a few of the ones I like.

 

[SureWord 236]

Not really considered proverbs but more tongue-in-cheek maxims but I always found some truth in Murphy's Law and it's corollaries.

"Only the tool you can’t find is the one you need right now."

"Anything dropped will find the most inaccessible place to rest"

Anyone working on a car or really anything mechanical will finds these two adages to be true on more than one occasion. 

[Bouncing Bill 74]

"Never lay a tool down without looking where you put it."

 

I hate it when I am working on something, lay the tool down, do a bit more and then need that tool and cannot find it. I have not moved. I know it is within arms length and yet now it is hidden and it takes me ten minutes to find it. LOL

[1Timothy115 923]

"If a snow just lays around before long another one will come and cover it up."
My dear Grandmother.

Edited February 10 by 1Timothy115
Had to remove a word not used 'along.'

[Bouncing Bill 74]

If the sun is shining while it rains, it will rain tomorrow.

 

Heard this as a kid. I don't think it holds however.

If it starts to rain and the chickens go inside, it will soon stop. If it starts to rain and the chickens stay outside, it will rain all day.

This one seems true. It hold for birds in your yard as well. Watch them the next time it rains.

Edited February 10 by Bouncing Bill

[SureWord 236]

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

This is how the PA town Bird-in-Hand got its name. The Quakers who settled there were heading to Philadelphia but liked the area so much they said the above quote so stayed where they were at.

Personally, I've made a few life decisions based on this maxim.

Edited February 10 by SureWord

[Ukulelemike 3,834]

My grandmother used to say, "You can sit on the top of a mountain, but you can't sit on the tip of a pin.

One winter she broke her leg, so we shot her.

--Benny Hill

[Bouncing Bill 74]

Every morning you wake-up is a successful day.

[Bouncing Bill 74]

Fame is empty. 

Tao Quan, Eastern Jin Dynasty.

[Bouncing Bill 74]

Adversity and loss make a man wise.

[Bouncing Bill 74]

The wise man puts himself last and finds himself first.  Confucius 

[1Timothy115 923]

When travelling by air:

"Any landing you can walk away from is a good one."

Gerald R. Massie in 1944 after the crash-landing of his B-17 while serving as a photographer.

[1Timothy115 923]

On 2/13/2021 at 8:40 AM, Bouncing Bill said:

Adversity and loss make a man wise.

Reminds me of a quote from a book I just read... "The areas in which you are experiencing the most adversity are the areas in which God is at work."  How To Handle Adversity, Dr. Charles Stanley

Note: Dr. Stanley's book is written with the Christian in mind.
P.S. I know what denomination he is in.

[Bouncing Bill 74]

When you befriend a chief remember that he sits on a rope.

 Ugandan proverb

[SureWord 236]

6 hours ago, Bouncing Bill said:

When you befriend a chief remember that he sits on a rope.

 Ugandan proverb

I have to admit that one flies above my head.

Good medicine is bitter to the mouth. - Japanese proverb

[Bouncing Bill 74]

16 hours ago, SureWord said:

I have to admit that one flies above my head.

Good medicine is bitter to the mouth. - Japanese proverb

On the African proverb. I take it to mean the Chief has power over you and your life. With a rope, he can tie you up or, at worst, hang you. He, the Chief, has the power you do not have.

[Bouncing Bill 74]

We can't change the direction of the wind, but we can adjust the sails.

Indian proverb 

[SureWord 236]

"He who goes out to set the world on fire soon returns home for more matches"

I forget who said that one but it always stuck with me.

"If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking 'til you do succeed. - Curly Howard of The Three Stooges

[1Timothy115 923]

"Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death." [Proverbs 11:4]

[SureWord 236]

2 hours ago, 1Timothy115 said:

"Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death." [Proverbs 11:4]

Interesting verse because normally in times of major crisis usually the more money you have the better chances you have coming out unscathed. So, obviously this "day of wrath" is referring to divine judgement straight from God as in the Great Tribulation or the Great White Throne Judgement. 

Edited February 22 by SureWord

[1Timothy115 923]

2 hours ago, SureWord said:

Interesting verse because normally in times of major crisis usually the more money you have the better chances you have coming out unscathed. So, obviously this "day of wrath" is referring to divine judgement straight from God as in the Great Tribulation or the Great White Throne Judgement. 

Kind of goes hand in hand with this next one... "You can't take it with you." 

[Bouncing Bill 74]

A spoken word is not a sparrow. Once it flies out, you can't catch it.

Russian Proverb

[1Timothy115 923]

"He that lieth down with dogs shall rise up with fleas"  Benjamin Franklin

[SureWord 236]

"For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged." - Proverbs 28:2

[Bouncing Bill 74]

^{James 1:19}

 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath

[1Timothy115 923]

Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord. [Proverbs 6:14]

 

[Bouncing Bill 74]

He who plants a garden, plants happiness.

Chinese proverb

[SureWord 236]

"Never use a hatchet to remove a fly from your friend's forehead."