... Sagacious Sayings 1 ...

... Recommend this page to a friend.

1. Adam's Theory ... If you line up all the cars in the world end to end, someone would be stupid enough to try and pass them.

2. Alice's Understanding ... The trouble with being punctual is that people think you have nothing better to do.

3. Arielle's Law ... Contentment is not found in having everything you want, but in being satisfied with everything you have.

4. Austin's Law ... Better than counting your years is making your years count.

5. Cheryl's Observation ... We expect teachers to handle teenage pregnancy, substance abuse, and the failings of the family ... Then we expect them to educate our children.

6. Damian's Law ... To stay young in spirit, keep taking on new thoughts and throwing off old habits.

7. Daniel's Example ... The only way to get a friend is to be one.

8. Eileen's Law ... You can't have everything ... where would you put it?

9. Erica's Word to the Wise ... Be careful of "Job's Comforter" ... a friend who was commiserating with our biblical Job ... he pretends to sympathize in your grief, but then says that you brought it on by yourself; thus in reality adding weight to your sorrow ... Like Iago, this "comforter" plays with your feelings.

10. Gabrielle's Law ... As long as there are tests, there will be prayer in public schools.

11. Grandpa Nat ... people who need people are the craziest people in the world.

12. Grandma Nettie ... a note on scrap paper (even with faded ink) is an improvement over the best memory.

13. Grandpa Phil ... A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.

14. Grandma Sylvia ... Remember, the truth is not always what we want to hear.

15. Harold's Observations and Sayings (it's his website so he gets a few extra):
    
    • A little birdie passing by dropped its dropping, in my eye. I did not laugh, I did not cry, I just thanked G-d, that cows don't fly.
    • Ask not what you can do for your country... darn, that's already taken.
    • Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in his shoes. Then when you do criticize that person, you'll be a mile away and you'll have his shoes.
    • Don't fear failure so much that you refuse to try new things. The saddest summary of a life contains three descriptions: could have, might have, and should have.
    • For social mobility, the most important decision you’ll ever make is in choosing your parents. After that, it’s talent and hard work.
    • Formula for youth: keep your enthusiasm and forget your birthdays.
    • Funny, I don't remember being absent minded.
    • I am now quite cured of seeking pleasure in society, be it country or town. A sensible man ought to find sufficient company in himself (really quoting Emily Bronte).
    • I can please only one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow isn't looking good either.
    • I don't have an attitude problem. You have a perception problem.
    • I need a respite from life and reality.
    • If you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss begins to call you. (this one has dangerous implications).
    • If you let a smile be your umbrella, your ass will be soaking wet.
    • It's not the pace of life that concerns me, it's the sudden stop at the end.
    • Quick fingers often get me into trouble; I need to put brain in gear before pushing buttons.
    • Take life as it comes, but don’t lose your sense of humor.
    • Tell me what you need, and I'll tell you how to get along without it.
    • The best way to live your life is with your heart breaking or your heart overflowing.
    • The part of the human anatomy that is referred to as the butt, rear end, keister or tush, is often also called the "bottom" ... I fail to understand why. Stand up and you'll note that the "bottom" is really in the middle ... I know mine is.
    • When you work hard at something you enjoy, the work is not really hard work ... and when you are working at something you dislike, that work is always hard work. (This one he really made up; mentioning it to Sarah while she was driving the Jeep and we were discussing her joy in cooking and baking)
    • Honey, you stick to the washin', ironin', cookin', and scrubbin'. No wife of mine is gonna work.
    • You don't need parties for happiness; recognize joy when it arrives in the plain brown wrappings of everyday life.
    • And as Professor Henry Higgins says, "The question is not whether I've treated you rudely but whether you've ever heard me treat anyone else better."
    • And if anything should ever happen to me, repeat these words: Klatu, Merada, Nicto.
    • And his prayer? "L-rd keep me open to others' ideas, WRONG though they may be. "

16. Holly's Thought ... The world is a rose; smell it and pass it on to your friends.

17. Iris ... A habit is at first a cobweb, then it becomes a cable.

18. Joan's Law ... Keep your mouth shut, because as far as anyone knows, you have a nice normal family ... I think Homer Simpson said something to that effect.

19. Joanie's Understanding ... When you are born, you cry and the world rejoices; therefore live your life so that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice.

20. Jonathan's Law ... Never let your sense of morals interfere with doing the right thing.

21. Joshua's Maxim ... It requires wisdom to understand wisdom. In other words, the music is nothing if the audience is deaf. Now what's that about making silk purses and sow's ears? ... I remember something like that.

22. Juliette's Law ... Birthdays are good for you ... the more you have the longer you live.

23. Larry's Observation ... When you go into court you are putting yourself in the hands of twelve people that weren't smart enough to get out of jury duty.

24. Lynn's Observation ... G-d did not create the world in seven days; he messed around for six days and then pulled an all-nighter.

25. Madelyn's Lessons ... Many things are opened by mistake, but none more often than the mouth ... also, a rumor goes in one ear and out many mouths.

26. Mark's Law ... No matter how careful one is in resealing the inner liner in a cereal box, where it is glued to the box it will still tear.

27. Michael's Wisdom ... A lie travels round the world while truth is still putting her boots on.

28. Michelle's Theory ... He who hesitates is not only lost, but several miles from the next freeway exit.

29. Mindy's Instruction ... To be overly honest in a dishonest world is like plucking a chicken in the wind ... you'll only end up with a mouth full of feathers ... This lesson was taught to the all-knowing cafe owner in the movie ... Irma LaDouce.

30. Miriam's Rule ... The game of life is not so much in holding a good hand as playing a poor hand well.

31. Miriam's Secret ... Lots of times you have to pretend to join a parade in which you're not really interested in order to get where you're going. (Actually quoting Christopher Morley, writer (1890-1957)

32. Mitchell's Law ... The work never ends ... When you have completed 95 percent of your journey, you are halfway there. A variation of this was said by Thomas Alva Edison: Show me a thoroughly satisfied man, and I will show you a failure.

33. Naomi's Observation ... While standing in one line, you'll always find the other line moves faster.

34. Parker's Axiom ... When all else fails, read the instructions.

35. Paul's Law ... The more corrupt the state, the more numerous the laws. I think Tacitus made a similar comment in the first century ... He also claims: "People who are uncomfortable with cats, will come back as mice in their next life."

36. Richard's Truism ... By the time you get to the point where you can make ends meet, somebody moves the ends.

37. Rita's Lesson ... If you want the rainbow, you have to put up with the rain.

38. Sarah's Observation ... A smile is a light in the window of the face that shows a happy heart is at home.

39. Scott's Law of Selective Gravity, or the Buttered-Side Down Law ... An object will fall so as to do the most damage.

40. Seymour's Conclusion ... Everything takes longer than you think.

41. Shari's Law ... How long a minute is, depends on which side of the bathroom door you're on.

42. Stanley's Lesson ... Nothing will show more accurately what we are than the way in which we meet trials and difficulties.

43. Steven's Definition ... The smallest interval of time known to man is not the nanosecond, it is that which occurs in Manhattan between the traffic signal turning green and the taxi driver behind you blowing his horn.

44. Stuart's Lesson ... Never look back; you're not going in that direction.

1. A book is like a garden you carry in your pocket. -Arabic.

2. A great teacher is better than a dozen books. -German.

3. A happy person is not a person in a certain set of circumstances, but rather a person with a certain set of attitudes. -Scottish

4. A half-truth is a whole lie. -Yiddish proverb

5. A man needs a little madness, or else he never dares cut the rope and be free. -Nikos Kazantzakis

6. A man is not honest simply because he never had a chance to steal. -Yiddish.

7. A monkey never thinks her baby's ugly. -Haitian.

8. A prudent man does not make the goat his gardener. -Hungarian.

9. A spoon does not know the taste of soup, or a learned fool the taste of wisdom. -Welsh

10. A table is not blessed if it has fed no scholars. -Yiddish.

11. A throne is only a bench covered with velvet. -French.

12. A wise man hears one word and understands two. -Yiddish.

13. A wise man makes his own decisions; an ignorant man follows the public opinion. -Chinese.

14. A worm infesting the horseradish always thinks,"There is no sweeter place in the world to be." -Yiddish

15. A worthy woman is far more precious than jewels, strength and dignity are her clothing. -Bible (s 31).

16. All things grow with time, except grief. -Yiddish.

17. An angry man is not fit to pray. -Yiddish.

18. An enemy will agree, but a friend will argue. -Russian.

19. An individual is recognized by his pocket (kiso), his glass (koso) and his anger (kaaso) -Talmud ... a remarkable play on three Hebrew words, and it means: we can penetrate someone's true character when we see how he deals with money, drink, and anger.

20. At the end of the game the king and the pawn go back in the same box. -Italian

21. Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness. -Chinese.

22. Better wear out shoes than sheets. -Scottish.

23. Beware of a silent dog and of still water. -German.

24. Both your friend and your enemy think you will never die. -Irish.

25. Commit a sin twice and it will not seem a crime. -Yiddish.

26. Deal with the faults of others as gently as with your own. -Chinese.

27. Do not blame God for having created the tiger, but thank him for not having given it wings. -Indian.

28. Don't ever forget kindness and truth, wear them like a necklace, write them on your heart as if on a tablet, then you will be respected and will please both G-d and people. -(Proverbs 3:3-4)

29. Each and every person is obligated to say: on my account was the world created. –Bible

30. Even a thousand mile long journey starts with a step. -Chinese.

31. Everyone is kneaded out of the same dough but not baked in the same oven. -Yiddish.

32. Everyone loves justice in the affairs of another. -Italian.

33. Festina lente ... make haste slowly, hurry slowly –Latin

34. For as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. -Proverbs 2 3:7

35. Friends are lost by calling often and by calling seldom. -French.

36. G-d could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers. -Yiddish.

37. Give a man a fish, and he'll eat for a day. Teach him how to fish and he'll eat forever. -Chinese.

38. God does the healing and the physician takes the fee. -French.

39. Habits are at first cobwebs, then cables. -Spanish.

40. He is not wise who is not wise for himself. -English.

41. He who asks questions cannot avoid the answers. -Cameroon.

42. He who has health has hope; and he who has hope, has everything. -Arabian

43. He who has once burnt his mouth always blows his soup. -German.

44. He who knows nothing, doubts nothing. -Spanish.

45. He who rides a tiger is afraid to dismount. -Chinese.

46. He who seeks a friend without fault remains without. -Turkish

47. How many will listen to the truth when you tell them?. -Yiddish.

48. If a man deceives me once, shame on him; if he deceives me twice, shame on me. -Italian.

49. If all pulled in one direction, the world would keel over. -Yiddish.

50. If rich people could hire other people to die for them, the poor could make a wonderful living. -Yiddish.

51. If thine enemy is hungry, give him bread. -(Proverbs 25:21)

52. If you are planning for a year, sow rice; if you are planning for a decade, plant trees; if you are planning for a lifetime, educate people. -Chinese.

53. If you believe everything you read, better to not read. -Japanese.

54. If you do not want anyone to know about it, but have to do it, do it in another city. -Yiddish.

55. If you do not want anyone to know about it. -don't do it. -Chinese.

56. Ignorance and conceit go hand in hand. -The Talmud.

57. It is better to ask and appear ignorant, than to remain silent and remain ignorant. -Chinese.

58. It is better to conceal one's knowledge than to reveal one's ignorance. -Spanish.

59. It is better to get into trouble than not get into anything at all. -Danish.

60. It is not the horse that draws the cart, but the oats. -Russian.

61. Large desire is endless poverty. -Indian.

62. Life is a tragedy for those who feel; and a comedy for those who think. -Chinese

63. Look down if you would know how high you stand. -Yiddish ... I suppose a more cynical interpretation is: Look to see whom you are running with.

64. Love can not grow without passion. -Greek.

65. Love your neighbors, but don't pull down the fence. -Chinese.

66. Love your neighbor, but put up a fence. -Russian.

67. May there always be work for your hands to do; may your purse always hold a coin or two; may the sun always shine on your windowpane; may a rainbow be certain to follow each rain; may the hand of a friend always be near you; may G-d fill your heart with gladness to cheer you. -An Irish Blessing)

68. Not even the angels stand higher than the man who took the wrong way and then returned. -The Talmud.

69. One does not pull a sword on a louse. -Russian.

70. One generation plants the trees; another gets the shade. -Chinese.

71. One of these days is none of these days. -English.

72. One should go invited to a friend in good fortune, and uninvited in misfortune. -Swedish.

73. Put silk on a goat, and it's still a goat. -Irish.

74. Rather once cry your heart out than always sigh. -Asian.

75. Some people are masters of money, and some its slaves ... yet it's the same money. -Russian.

76. Starting well is half the job. -Korean

77. Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. -Bible.

78. Teachers open the door. You enter by yourself. -Chinese

79. Tell me who you live with and I will tell you who you are. -Spanish.

80. The big thieves hang the little ones. -Czech.

81. The comforter's head never aches.. -Italian.

82. The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials. -Chinese.

83. The girl who can't dance says the band can't play. -Yiddish.

84. The horse is not judged by the saddle. -German proverb

85. The innkeeper loves the drunkard, but not for a son-in-law.. -Yiddish.

86. The man with the boots does not mind where he places his foot. -Irish.

87. The nail that sticks up will be hammered down.. -Japanese.

88. The object of words is to conceal thoughts.. -Japanese

89. The palest ink is better than the sharpest memory. -Chinese

90. The reverse side also has a reverse side. -Japanese.

91. The road to a friend's house is never long. -Danish.

92. The silent dog is the first to bite. -German.

93. The tallest blade of grass is the first to be cut by the scythe. -Russian.

94. The tongue is more to be feared than the sword. -Japanese.

95. The tongue like a sharp knife, it kills without drawing blood. -Chinese.

96. The turtle lays thousands of eggs without anyone knowing, but when the hen lays an egg, the whole country is informed. -Malay.

97. The well fed does not understand the lean. -Irish.

98. The wise adapt themselves to circumstances, as water moulds itself to the pitcher. -Chinese.

99. The wise man sits on the hole in his carpet. -Persian.

100. The work praises the man. -Irish.

101. The worm that infests the horseradish thinks, "There is no sweeter place in the world to be." (Meaning that is very easy for one to become accustomed to the rut [or slavery] one is in) –Jewish folk saying

     There are many paths to the top of the mountain, but the view is always the same. -Chinese.

102. There is no pleasure in life so great as doing what others say you can't. -Chinese (well, I saw it in a fortune cookie.)

103. There is no shame in not knowing ... the shame lies in not finding out.. -Russian

104. There is plenty of sound in an empty barrel. -Russian.

105. Though a tree grow ever so high, the falling leaves return to the ground. -Malay.

106. To be rich is not everything, but it certainly helps. -Yiddish.

107. To study the self is to forget the self. To forget the self is to understand all things. -Zen.

108. To the donkey, or to the pig ... their own offspring appears the fairest in creation. -Latin.

109. True nobility is in being superior to your previous self. -Hindustani.

110. Trust in Allah, but tie your camel. -Muslim.

111. Truth and oil always come to the surface. -Spanish.

112. What breaks in a moment may take years to mend. -Swedish.

113. When a father helps a son, both smile; but when a son must help his father, both cry. -Yiddish.

114. When a rogue kisses you, count your teeth.. -Yiddish

115. When fortune knocks upon the door open it widely. -Spanish.

116. When ill luck falls asleep, let none wake her. -Italian.

117. When one dog barks another will join it. -Latin.

118. When poverty comes in at the door, love flies out at the window. -Italian

119. When spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion. -Ethiopian.

120. When the mouse laughs at the cat, there is a hole nearby. -Nigerian.

121. When the mouse laughs at the cat, there is a hole nearby. -Nigerian.

122. When your enemy falls, don't rejoice; but don't pick him up either. -Yiddish.

123. Wisdom is to put aside the unimportant thing in life. -Chinese.

124. You can never enter the same river twice. -Indian.

125. You cannot reason with a hungry belly; it has no ears. -Greek.

126. You've got to do your own growing, no matter how tall your grandfather was. -Irish.