While going through some of the old letters my Daddy sent to me while I was in high school, I started recollecting some of the old proverbs my late dad loves to say always in those days, he would always use one of it as a conclusion in every of the letters he normally send to me. Catch a glimpse of some of them below and their meanings;
All that glitters are not gold.
This one was my father's favorite, it simply means every opportunity is not an open door, some are close doors in disguise. You Just have to be watchful and not allow yourself to be swayed by the pleasures of life. My father would say "My dear, you know you have to pray about that opportunity, remember all that glitters are not gold".
When the going gets tough, the tough gets going.
This simply means when situations are getting harder, strong people don't give up, they face the situation and work harder. It can be used in sentence like "My fellow workers, we don't have to relent even if the challenge is weighty, remember when the going gets tough, the tough gets going".
The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.
This means that we always feel other people are doing better than us even if we are doing absolutely better than them. This is one proverb my dad will always refer to anytime I make a comparison about me and my friends.
Two wrongs don't make a right.
This simply means that you don't have to pay or correct evil with evil. Paying back evil with evil will only make the both of you the same. It can be used as in "she cheated on her husband because he also cheated on her, she has forgotten that two wrongs don't make a right".
Make hay while the sun shines.
This is a proverb against procrastination, we should do things when we are supposed to do it and not procrastinate because no one knows what will happen the next minute. For example, we can say "you haven't submitted the application yet? you had better make hay while the sun shines".
Rome wasn't built in a day.
Time is the major factor of life that is, we have to give ourself time in order to achieve great abd important things. It can be used in sentence like "I thought I could finish this assignment in one hour, I've forgotten that Rome wasn't built in a day".
Better late than never.
This shows that as much as it is better to do something on time, if you can't meet up to time, you have to do it anyways even if it's late. It can be used as "you can still go see the therapist, it's better late than never".
Half bread is better than none.
This simply means that it's better to take something little even if it's not satisfying than to not take it at all. Well this one is also one of dad's favorite, he would always use this proverb whenever things are not really going well. For instance , he would sometimes say "there might not be enough money to pay all your school fees but half bread is better than none".
The forbidden fruit is always the sweetest.
This simply means that the things that are prohibited and not beneficial normally seems beautiful and appealing to the eyes than things that are beneficial. My dad will also back this up with a verse in the bible in the book of proverbs 14 vs 12 which says "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death".
Practice makes perfect.
You have to practice a skill over and over again before you can become an expert in it. You can't just do something once and think that you can become perfect in doing it. For example "get yourself a makeup kit so you can start rehearsing what you've learnt, remember that practice makes perfect".
Two heads are better than one.
This is just talking about the importance of cooperation or collective work. What one person will achieve in 2 hours, two people will achieve it in a maximum of 1 hour. It can be used as "knowing that two heads are better than one, I decided to get two intrepreneurs to help me with the company".
It’s of no use crying over spilt milk.
Another proverb which can be used to interpret this proverb is "what is done us done" you can't change what has happened even if it's good or not good. I feel like this is the proverb that cheered me up and kept me going after my dad died. I would always say to myself "my father is gone and gone forever so it's of no use crying over split milk".
All these proverbs and many others that I won't be able to list here have been my guide over the years. I felt like sharing it here maybe it can as well help someone here. You can as well share any proverb that has also helped you over the years in the comment section below. Thanks for reading, I love you and I will see you in my next post.