Monday, May 03, 2010

Quote File: Proverbs

Thanks to this fabulous quotation on today's A.Word.A.Day, I at first thought the theme of this Quote File would be "Parts of Speech," featuring quotes with the words "noun," "verb," "adjective," etc. Alas, the people whose quotations I collect have been mysteriously silent on the subject. But searching my actual, digital, one-hundred-plus-page Quotations File for the word "verb" brought me to these multiple wonderful proverbs, and voila, a different theme was born:

A proverb is a short sentence based on long experience. -- Miguel de Cervantes

The fly cannot be driven away by getting angry at it. -- African proverb

If there’s no enemy within, the enemy without can do you no harm. -- 
African proverb

A closed mind is like a closed book: just a block of wood. -- Chinese proverb

A diamond with a flaw is better than a common stone that is perfect. -- Chinese proverb

The man who strikes first admits that his ideas have given out. – Chinese proverb

A beautiful thing is never perfect. -- Egyptian proverb

Good deeds are the best prayer. -- Serbian proverb

No matter how far you have gone on the wrong road, turn back. -- Turkish proverb

A man is not old until his regrets take the place of dreams. -- Yiddish proverb

Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. -- Zen Buddhist proverb

3 comments:

  1. I loved these. 'A beautiful thing is never perfect.' My new mantra. :)

    And the 'turn back' one. Great advice in so many ways.

    Thanks for sharing!

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  2. I loved the Egyptian proverb as well as the Yiddish one. 'A man is not old until his regrets take the place of dreams.'

    I have always felt - when we lose hope and stop dreaming we have ceased to live. (Hugs)Indigo

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  3. One of my favourites is this Chinese proverb: "If we do not change our direction, we are likely to end up where we are headed."

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