Question for smart people

LeeMarsh · Post by **LeeMarsh** » Wed Dec 29, 2004 1:38 pm

I like sayings that appear opposite, but are both true.

People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
People who live in stone houses shouldn't throw glass.

FJohnSharp · Post by **FJohnSharp** » Wed Dec 29, 2004 1:40 pm

'You can't have you cake and eat it too', even though I know what it means, was always baffling as to why it's phrased like it is until I learned that it's SUPPOSED to be 'You can't eat you cake and have it too.' That makes sense.

But don't try actually saying in public like that. People always try to correct you and an argument ensues and people end up resenting your brilliance. At least this is what people tell me.

JessieD · Post by **JessieD** » Wed Dec 29, 2004 2:15 pm

[quote="FJohnSharp"]"You can't have you cake and eat it too', even though I know what it means, was always baffling as to why it's phrased like it is"[/quote]

Customer: "I want to return this cake I bought"
Baker: "What's wrong with it?"
Customer: "Whats wrong with it? It is stale! It is so old, it is archaic!"
Baker: "Well, you can't have archaic and eat it too"

Post by **Nanohedron** » Wed Dec 29, 2004 6:05 pm

Jerry Freeman wrote:Any opposites for "Lightning never strikes the same place twice"?

Best wishes,
Jerry

"There's always tomorrow."

How about this one:

"Spare the rod and spoil the child."

aderyn_du · Post by **aderyn_du** » Wed Dec 29, 2004 8:06 pm

Nanohedron wrote: How about this one:

"Spare the rod and spoil the child."

I think that's a horrid one.

DCrom · Post by **DCrom** » Wed Dec 29, 2004 8:20 pm

aderyn_du wrote:
Nanohedron wrote: How about this one:

"Spare the rod and spoil the child."
I think that's a horrid one.

It is, indeed, but it does encapsulate an uncomfortable element of truth:

Kids need discipline (not "the rod", but discipline) and boundaries when they're growing up. And they often appreciate it, not that they'd admit it at the time.

The trick is to know what's important, and set THOSE boundaries, but let the rest slide, and set punishments (if any) to the circumstance. I thought my parents and grandparents were horribly strict when I was growing up, but looking back I'm amazed at how permissive they really were - the hard boundaries were few and plainly marked. But few as they were, they WERE enforced. Looking back 30 years later, I'm grateful both for the liberties I was given - and the few, necessary, times I was pulled up short.

Dana

Flyingcursor · Post by **Flyingcursor** » Thu Dec 30, 2004 5:17 am

DCrom wrote:
aderyn_du wrote:
Nanohedron wrote: How about this one:

"Spare the rod and spoil the child."
I think that's a horrid one.
It is, indeed, but it does encapsulate an uncomfortable element of truth:

Kids need discipline (not "the rod", but discipline) and boundaries when they're growing up. And they often appreciate it, not that they'd admit it at the time.

The trick is to know what's important, and set THOSE boundaries, but let the rest slide, and set punishments (if any) to the circumstance. I thought my parents and grandparents were horribly strict when I was growing up, but looking back I'm amazed at how permissive they really were - the hard boundaries were few and plainly marked. But few as they were, they WERE enforced. Looking back 30 years later, I'm grateful both for the liberties I was given - and the few, necessary, times I was pulled up short.

Dana

Well put!

suejnnhe · Post by **suejnnhe** » Thu Dec 30, 2004 6:40 am

Jerry Freeman wrote:Any opposites for "Lightning never strikes the same place twice"?

Best wishes,
Jerry

How 'bout, "Bad things come in threes"?

HeySue!

izzarina · Post by **izzarina** » Thu Dec 30, 2004 10:24 am

Nanohedron wrote:"There's always tomorrow."

Makes me think of Rudolph...you know that song? "Theeeeeres ALLLLLLLWAYSSSSS tomorrow!!!!"
And then there's Scarlett O'Hara, "after all, tomorrow IS another day!"

Martin Milner · Post by **Martin Milner** » Thu Dec 30, 2004 11:08 am

A stitch in time gathers no moss...

aderyn_du · Post by **aderyn_du** » Thu Dec 30, 2004 11:23 am

Erm, Martin... methinks you've combined a couple there.

A stitch in time saves nine...
A rolling stone gathers no moss...

Which is a good thing on that second one... can you imagine Keith Richards covered in moss??

TomB · Post by **TomB** » Thu Dec 30, 2004 11:45 am

aderyn_du wrote:Erm, Martin... methinks you've combined a couple there.

A stitch in time saves nine...
A rolling stone gathers no moss...

Which is a good thing on that second one... can you imagine Keith Richards covered in moss??

Actually, by now Keith Richards "should" be covered in moss.

Tom

Flyingcursor · Post by **Flyingcursor** » Thu Dec 30, 2004 11:49 am

People in glass houses shouldn't throw Martin's manitees.

A Saga:

Somebody ripped off the kings throne. All the kings soldiers searched the kingdom but found nothing. Meanwhile a poor wretched peasent had hidden the throne in the attic of his thatch hut. That night the weight of the throne crashed through and crushed the peasent in his straw pallet.

The moral? People who live in grass houses shouldn't stow thrones.

izzarina · Post by **izzarina** » Thu Dec 30, 2004 12:27 pm

This all reminds me of Scottielvr's quote from Dorothy Day that she has as her siggy: "You can lead a horticulture, but you can't make her think". It cracks me up every time she posts

Post by **Nanohedron** » Thu Dec 30, 2004 12:35 pm

aderyn_du wrote:
Nanohedron wrote: How about this one:

"Spare the rod and spoil the child."
I think that's a horrid one.

Well, I think it's horrid, too. What better reason to come up with its antithesis?