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Proverbs: Collected for Thousands of Years
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| In for fair wisdom - |
Contents
Supporting "well medleys" are presupposed
throughout:A Bundle of Proverbs
Great folks learn to consider things on top of historical developments or trends,
and that special sort of estimation (thinking) is often much helped by select, classy
proverbs. Very good proverbs assist a maturing individual too.Good Thinking
Good thinking is fit for you and me. And much fit and good can come into the one who learns to consider well before talking. One should learn to think "hm" at least initially, for it often helps to consider this and that some way or other.We Norwegians like proverbs. And maybe we have nothing better to do that try to get to some laconic or terse sayings in English out of French proverbs. If so, the ones we start out from, had better seem fit and Solomonic. And what we end up with, should appear as poignant, hopefully relevant and tidy enough in many a valuable setting and ministry. And why not also seek to keep the renditions (equivalents) or (direct) translations tied in with the original French proverbs we took off from? History shows both approaches can work well.
In fact, many typical British proverbs were handed over from French in medieval times - more or less as equivalents, and often as direct translations. Put in other words: As The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs [Cp] shows, this process has been much more common than hitherto thought of.
Also, after Erasmus of Rotterdam published adages in the 1500s, many "international medieval" proverbs were made from Latin and Greek sayings, some of which were terse aces of learning from days gone by. "The highest right is often the highest evil" is one classy medieval proverb. It may deserve much consideration.
Just as many French proverbs derive from Latin, and very many British proverbs derive from French ones, there were other inroads too. One was by Normans. These escendants of Scandinavian Vikings (and others) took over half of Italy, England and many other places, and were good at looting and collecting treasures - and word-treasures should not be excluded from what they're credited with bringing to Normandy, Aquitaine, and Britain either.
For many French proverbs there is a word-for-word equivalent in English. It's due to much contact - not always peaceful - for centuries after the Viking descendant William took over England in AD 1066. [LINK]
This should be recognised. And this too: Well selected and carefully bundled proverbs may be turned into excellent channels for learning. It is one of the good field of study. It should be recognised as one elongated or prolonged field of "folk pedagogy", a term that Dr. Jerome Bruner has become fond of in his later years. His book The Culture of Education is in part about it, particularly the fourth chapter. [Coe]
Better buy than borrow.
A good lawyer, a bad neighbour.
The end of passion is the beginning of repentance.
Appearances are deceiving.
Who spits against the wind, spits in his own face.
Building a Good Life
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| OK tigers hardly need your balm. |
In the Bible there are many imported proverbs in the Old Testament. Scholars agree that proverbs attributed to Solomon stemmed from neighbouring countries, Egypt included. [Encyclopedia Britannica]
A great many sayings in the New Testaments have been incorporated among proverbs too, either verbatim or rendered. [Cf. Ap, for example] Here are some dictums from the pen of Paul, with a few comments. Enjoy.
BE NO LONGER infants, blown here and there by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. - The whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love. - [See Ephesians 4:14-16]
You must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking, in the hardening of their hearts. They have given themselves over to sensuality. [See Ephesians 4:17-19]
Therefore, put off falsehood and speak truthfully - Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths." [See Ephesians 4:25-32]
Important to west-enders
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| OK jaguars need much calm |
One should avoid very foolish controversies and unprofitable arguments. - See Paul in [Titus 3;9]
One should avoid whims full well. And very stupid quarrels seldom make a bear (among men) rich. - See St. Paul [Titus 3;9]
Clean living and a nice, clean hut is not so bad:
"God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life," said Paul [1 Thessalonians 4:7]
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Adjoined
Coe: Bruner, Jerome: The culture of education. Harvard University. Cambridge. Mass., 1996Cp: Simpson, John and Speake, Jennifer: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs. 3rd ed. Oxford University. Oxford, 1998.
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