If you’re anything like me, you sometimes hoard work. But this is a trait I have managed to improve over time, by realizing that work-hoarding is rooted in ego and a lack of faith, and ultimately isn’t healthy. Only after giving deep reflection to the proverb “Many hands make light work”—which my wonderful mother said…
A Worthwhile Proverb? ‘No Good Deed Goes Unpunished’
The saying “No good deed goes unpunished” has always intrigued me. I’ve wondered whether it has ancient origins, like so many other proverbs, and was curious about the context from which it was born. I’ve also always had mixed feelings about it, wondering about the intention behind the saying and whether it’s a good saying…
Proverbs to Cherish: ‘Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder’
Recently, my husband had to take a job in another region for a few months. During that time, I felt more than ever the insightfulness of the proverb “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.” I used to think it was a bit of an overly affected saying, but now that I’ve experienced it fully, I…
Proverbs to Cherish: ‘Time Heals All Wounds’
It isn’t every day that we get to engage with something dating back to 300 B.C., but the proverb “Time heals all wounds” is just that. Have you ever had someone quote this proverb to you when you needed just a little bit of reassurance, which this one so consistently provides? Just saying it to…
Proverbs to Cherish: ‘A Rolling Stone Gathers No Moss’
How to interpret the proverb “A rolling stone gathers no moss” is, intriguingly, not a one-size-fits-all proposition. Over the generations, it has come to take on an entirely different meaning. When you look at this saying, and it’s one most of us have heard of, do you think it’s recommending we be the rolling stone…
Proverbs to Cherish: ‘An Ounce of Prevention’
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is one of those proverbs that many only half-know. In fact, probably most people can only recite, “An ounce of prevention.” The story behind this proverb and its potential for diverse application are fascinating. In my first piece on proverbs, I talked about proverbs as…
Proverbs to Cherish: ‘Idle Hands’
I was fortunate to grow up with a mother who often spoke in proverbs—“a stitch in time,” “do unto others,” and so on—but have only truly begun to appreciate their wisdom as I’ve grown older. Yet when I use them nowadays, I find that a lot of people don’t know them and wish they did….
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