| PROVERBS |
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| Repairing the cow-shed after the cow is lost. Rep. of Korea A Sparrow does not skim over a rice mill. Rep. of Korea Constant grinding can turn even iron into a needle. China Without climbing mountains one know not how high the sky is; Without descending into deep valleys one know not how solid the earth is. China A rotten tree does not produce fruits, and empty words have no value. China Together, people can move mountains; firewood bunched together can produce higher flames. China Birds listen to day-talk, and rats to night-talk. Rep. of Korea Describing curd (yoghurt) to a blind person. A blind man had heard a lot about curd, but had not eaten it. He asked someone what it was like. "It is white," he said. The poor blind man did not know what white was. "What is white?" he asked. "White is what the crane is," came the answer. "And what is a crane?" asked the blind man. The man bent his arm at the elbow and the wrist. He asked the blind man to feel his arm and said, "This is what a crance is like." The blind man felt his friend's arm and sighed, "Oh, eating curd is not going to be easy." The proverb illustrates explaining something unknown with the help of another unknown thing. Sri Lanka The hardest rock erodes in water. Philippines Sweetness gone, the chewed sugar cane is discarded. An ungrateful attitude. Someone or something is wanted or valued only while useful. When it has lost its use, it is forgotten or discarded. Indonesia Does a frog catch cold? India Like the elephant's teeth: The tusks for show, Others to eat. India Rippling water shows lack of depth. A person who is actually not clever, but likes to show off. Indonesia Different grasshoppers in different fields, different fish at different depths. One must notice that there are different traditions in different countries, and different habits among different groups of people. Indonesia Like Kaluva going to Marapana. Kaluva was a simpleton, though honest and sincere. The village chief wanted him to go to another village chief, and asked him to start before daybreak. So Kaluva did, but without taking the chief's written message, for he was told nothing about the message! This proverb means following instructions literally without understanding the purpose, or loyalty without commonsense. Sri Lanka A pumpkin thief is known by his shoulder. Ash pumpkin is very big and has a coating of ash on its skin. People carry it on the shoulder and it leaves behind some ash. Sri Lanka The tortoise yelled, "No, no!" when he was about to be thrown into the water as a punishment. A king wanted to give the most severe punishment to a tortoise for some offence. It was decided to turn him upside down. The clever tortoise said, "That would be fine. I'd like some sun on my stomach." The king though, "If the tortoise likes it, how can it be a punishment?" He decided to lash his back. "Good," said the tortoise, "That will make my shell stronger." Then the king changed his mind and decided to throw him in the water. "Oh no, do anything, but don't throw him in the water," cried the tortoise. So, into the water the tortoise was thrown. The king was happy that at last he was given the right punishment, and the tortoise was happy that he was back home safely. The proverb illustrates ordering a person to do something which he had only been waiting to do. Sri Lanka The sweetness of sugar does not remain sweet on our tongue for long, but the sweetness of good words stays sweet in our hearts forever. All hurts can be healed, but not hurt feelings. Thailand Like putting a pearl necklace round a monkey's neck. India There is no ivory that is not cracked. Nothing is perfect. Indonesia One who does not know how to dance blames the flooring. Same as 'a bad workman blames the tools'. Burma Playing a harp to a buffalo. Wasting good advice on a fool. Burma Pain in the finger affects the whole body. Philippines |
| Proverbs from Asia & the Pacific |
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