Hatrack River Forum: Dueling Proverbs

This is topic Dueling Proverbs in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

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Posted by KarlEd (Member # 571) on :

(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?

Posted by Beren One Hand (Member # 3403) on :

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

"Fortune favors the bold."

Posted by JonnyNotSoBravo (Member # 5715) on :

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

"The grass is always greeener on the other side"

Posted by hugh57 (Member # 5527) on :

"Many hands make light work"

"Too many cooks spoil the broth"

Posted by Corwin (Member # 5705) on :

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.

Posted by JonnyNotSoBravo (Member # 5715) on :

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 ]

Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :

quote:
"Many hands make light work"

"Too many cooks spoil the broth"

I was SO going to post this one.

Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :

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

Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :

"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!"

Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :

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

Posted by jeniwren (Member # 2002) on :

quote:
"Ask and ye shall receive."

"God helps those that help themselves."

Which is really the Bible vs. Benjamin Franklin. [Smile]

Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :

Is that against the rules? [Confused]

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

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."

Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :

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

Posted by TheHumanTarget (Member # 7129) on :

One must be poor to know the luxury of giving.

Be rich to yourself and poor to your friends.

Posted by Lady Jane (Member # 7249) on :

Birds of a feather flock together.

Opposites attract.

Posted by TheHumanTarget (Member # 7129) on :

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.

Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :

Bah. Dang apologists.

Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :

Beauty is as beauty does.

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

HAH!

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

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]

Posted by vwiggin (Member # 926) on :

Ignorance is bliss.

Knowledge is power.

* * *

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Don't eat the yellow snow.

Posted by Lady Jane (Member # 7249) on :

quote:
Ignorance is bliss.

Knowledge is power.

These can both be true. [Smile]

Posted by vwiggin (Member # 926) on :

*throws yellow snow*

Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :

Ignorance is bliss.

Don't eat the yellow snow.

Posted by vwiggin (Member # 926) on :

mmmmmm.... salty goodness....

[Laugh]

Dag

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

You can't take it with you.

He who dies with the most toys wins.

Posted by JonnyNotSoBravo (Member # 5715) on :

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.

Posted by JanitorBlade (Member # 12343) on :

Well, if we are resurrecting old threads,

Those two are thick as thieves.

There is no honor among thieves.

Posted by Sean Monahan (Member # 9334) on :

Every cloud has a silver lining.

An ape in silk is still an ape.

Posted by Elison R. Salazar (Member # 8565) on :

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

Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :

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]

Posted by Glenn Arnold (Member # 3192) on :

Too many chefs and not enough indians?