A Stitch in Time

Today's entry gets a bit into some of the inner workings of the popular mind, through language. 

But first, I DO have a place for my cats. They are safely in Greenville, SC. Thank you Kathy!

Aphorisms and popular sayings pop up all the time when we are in familiar situations that might require a linguistic resolution. Repeating  a popular wisdom-saying helps carry a conversation, establishes rapport among the speakers, and is - for us outsiders - a way to feel the "cultural wind" in our face of this foreign culture.

A country's aphorisms convey encapsulated nuggets of wisdom to the rising generation. 

"A stitch in time saves nine" or "The early bird captures the worm" is a short-hand way to express thrift or work ethic. And we all nod in agreement.

Readers: Please supply your own folk wisdom in the Comments below. What encapsulated wisdom does this list stimulate from your childhood, and from around the world? 

Below is my own collection of aphorisms from Korea. It is incomplete, some are a bit out of date, and some have resonance in next-door Japan. I hope this list provides the English reader with an insight or two about this nation's psyche. The bold-face is the aphorism, and the italics is an explanation.

1. "Don't try to cover the whole sky with the palm of your hand."
Why deny the obvious?

2. "In a place where there is will, there is a road."
Where there's a will, there's a way.

3. "Beans come out from where beans are planted, and red beans come out from where red beans are planted."
You know the tree by its fruit.

4. "Even monkeys may fall from trees."
Anyone can make a mistake. Often used to keep the arrogant or overconfident in check.

5. "Birds listen to day-words and rats listen to night-words."
The walls have ears. Be careful of when or where you say, because there are always people around that may overhear you.

6. "After three years at a village schoolhouse, even a dog can recite a poem."
Practice makes perfect.

7. "An empty cart rattles loudly."
It is not the advertiser of self who achieves the most.

8. "Even if you know the way, ask one more time."
Do not be overconfident and assume that you know anything perfectly well. There are always unknown or unexpected details.

9. "Well begun is half-done."
[This is what I have heard in English.]

10. "Seven falls, eight rises."
Persistence and resilience in a "tortoise and hare" way.

11. "Licking the outside of a watermelon."
Just scratching the surface will not get you dealing with the real problem.

12. "Even Diamond Mountain should be seen after eating."
When deciding what to do, eating should take priority first. (Diamond Mountain, now in North Korea, is the mountain of legends here.) 

13. "The other person's rice cake looks bigger."
The grass is greener on the other side of the hill.

14. "Fixing the stable door after losing the ox."
Too little, too late.

15. "East question, West answer."
When someone gives an answer which is unrelated to the question. Ships (of conversation) passing each other in the night.

16. "A frog in a well."
A person lacking vision and perspective.

17. "A dragon emerges from a ditch."
The greatest and strongest of people often come from a poor background and humble beginnings. (The dragon often symbolizes royalty or leaders.)

18. "Shrimps' backs are broken in a whale fight."
It's the small people or tiny nations who are hurt during a war.

19. "A small pepper is hot."
Fortitude and toughness to accomplish great things has little to do with size or appearance.

20 "A tiger comes when spoken about."
Speak of the devil...!

21. "Too many carpenters knock over the house."
Too many cooks spoil the broth.

Additions? Comments?