Comments on: Opposing aphorisms

Question: Opposing aphorisms

pgoes — Mon, 12 Sep 2005 19:36:38 -0800

I'm making a list of 'wise sayings' that contradict eachother. Examples: Many hands make light work.< -->Too many cooks spoil the broth. Look before you leap.< --> He who hesitates is lost. Absence makes the heart grow fonder.< --> Out of sight, out of mind. More, please, but not from 'pop culture'; rather, phrases more established in literature and ethnic/cultural history. Morals from Aesop's fables? Biblical quotes?

By: Leon

Leon — Mon, 12 Sep 2005 20:09:20 -0800

Ooh. I like these. (You can strip out any that are too "pop")

"The more the merrier" / "Two's company, three's a crowd"

"Look before you leap" also pairs with "Strike while the iron is hot"

"Birds of a feather flock together" / "Opposites attract"

"Que sera sera" / "Life is what you make it"

"Nothing ventured, nothing gained" / "Better safe than sorry"

"Beware of Greeks bearing gifts" / "Never look a gift horse in the mouth"

"The clothes maketh the man" / "Don't judge a book by its cover"

"You're never too old to learn" / "You can't teach an old dog new tricks"

"The pen is mightier than the sword" / "Actions speak louder than words"

Searching Google for pages that contain two contradictory sayings is likely to throw up a whole bunch more.

By: forforf

forforf — Mon, 12 Sep 2005 20:09:22 -0800

an eye for an eye < --> turn the other cheek

By: jeanmari

jeanmari — Mon, 12 Sep 2005 20:26:07 -0800

This list of proverbs from Bartleby is helpful:

It's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game / Winning isn't everything; it's the only thing

Haste makes waste / Make hay while the sun shines

By: jeanmari

jeanmari — Mon, 12 Sep 2005 20:32:31 -0800

If wishes were horses, beggers might ride. / The wish is the father of the deed.

By: pyramid termite

pyramid termite — Mon, 12 Sep 2005 21:19:09 -0800

if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all / honesty is the best policy

By: luriete

luriete — Mon, 12 Sep 2005 22:24:19 -0800

Spare the rod, spoil the child.

By: Clay201

Clay201 — Mon, 12 Sep 2005 22:42:17 -0800

Courtesy of Stephen King's 'Salem's Lot....

Listen not at keyholes, lest ye be vexed. / Forewarned is forearmed.

By: qwip

qwip — Mon, 12 Sep 2005 23:07:55 -0800

It takes one to know one < --> You don't have to be a chicken to know a rotten egg.

By: qwip

qwip — Mon, 12 Sep 2005 23:09:13 -0800

Oh, and..

Still waters run deep < --> The calm before the storm

By: weapons-grade pandemonium

weapons-grade pandemonium — Mon, 12 Sep 2005 23:12:21 -0800

The end does not justify the means
All's well that ends well.

By: birdsquared

birdsquared — Mon, 12 Sep 2005 23:30:31 -0800

Great minds think alike < --> fools seldom differ.

By: wsg

wsg — Tue, 13 Sep 2005 01:14:20 -0800

The early bird gets the worm, but it's the second mouse who gets the cheese.

By: brujita

brujita — Tue, 13 Sep 2005 03:22:22 -0800

an eye for an eye: "one trick deserves another" fits here too with "turn the other cheek".

By: Morrigan

Morrigan — Tue, 13 Sep 2005 06:32:20 -0800

Fools rush in where angels fear to tread < --> He who hesitates is lost.

By: exogenous

exogenous — Tue, 13 Sep 2005 07:36:43 -0800

Knowledge is power / Power corrupts

By: stoney

stoney — Tue, 13 Sep 2005 07:44:19 -0800

The squeaking wheel gets the grease / The quacking duck gets shot.

By: Sara Anne

Sara Anne — Tue, 13 Sep 2005 09:17:12 -0800

A Japanese friend recently pointed out the contrast between the Western proverb "the squeaky wheel gets the grease," and the Japanese proverb "the nail that sticks out shall be pounded down."

By: ObscureReferenceMan

ObscureReferenceMan — Tue, 13 Sep 2005 09:39:03 -0800

pgoes - Great question! I do this too. Here are a few more for you:

"Variety is the spice of life" / "Go with what you know"
"The road to hell is paved with good intentions" / "It's the thought that counts"
"The Devil is in the details" / "Don't sweat the small stuff"

Sorry - that last one is a bit "pop culture-ish"...

By: zueod

zueod — Tue, 13 Sep 2005 10:39:04 -0800

"Blessed are the peacemakers"< --->"I come not to bring peace but a sword"

By: KRS

KRS — Tue, 13 Sep 2005 10:41:15 -0800

And Judas went out and hanged himself.

Go thou and do likewise.

By: pgoes

pgoes — Tue, 13 Sep 2005 11:29:58 -0800

Plenty, Plenty! thanks to all

By: divabat

divabat — Thu, 20 Oct 2005 18:47:21 -0800

I remember Readers Digest had such a list a couple of years ago. Is there a way to search their archives somehow?