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I saw a social media post about a teacher who had given a 3rd Grade class the first half of various well known proverbs, and asked the kids to complete these.
The kids didn't know the proverbs already and had some hilarious phrases, and some heartwarming ones.
Then I thought ... why not the same thing for adults, to bring the proverbs up to date? |
Dear Reader,
I decided to try the exercise of 'complete the proverb for the 21st Century' with a group of adults. I put the first half of the proverb down on a card, and each person picked a card and completed the proverb they had. They enjoyed it so much that we did two rounds.
Here are some of the responses.
A lady who writes poetry and actively collects donations to send to families in Gaza picked the card that said 'Silence is ...'.
Her response -- 'Silence is complicity - if you stay silent, others will be silenced.'
The second card she picked said 'All that glitters ...'
Her response - 'All that glitters is not on Instagram.'
A young man, who writes rhyming poetry, got the card saying 'Imitation is ...' and came up with 'Imitation is a limitation'.
'It is better to light a candle ...' gave rise to some discussion. The lady who picked it said 'It is better to light a candle than to blow it out' and someone said, "Yeah, or it is better to light a candle than a gas station!"
Myself, I played with 'Seeing is'.
These days, thanks to PhotoShop and other technology, seeing definitely isn't believing. So -- Seeing is doubting? Seeing is being careful? Seeing is meaningless? And does it go beyond seeing, to feeling - to friendships, relationships, professional connections? Do we live in a more complicated world than simply looking and trusting?
As for 'All roads' - they might lead to Rome or they might not, but here in Bangalore they sure have potholes!
'Too many cooks ...'
' ... create such chaos that there's no point talking about the broth.'
'Beggars can't ...'
'... always be losers.'
'Don't put all your eggs ...'
'... to boil, fry some, scramble some.'
'One man's meat ...
'... won't be found on a vegan menu.'
And then of course there is 'He who hesitates is lost' which can be countered with 'Look before you leap' -- but then life was never meant to be logical, was it? 
It's fun to play with proverbs -- to understand what has changed over the centuries and what has remained the same. Which proverb most applies to your characters, and how would they tweak them in the setting you've created for them? Could your plot evolve from playing with a proverb? Give it a thought!
Thanks for listening!
PS - Here are a few more for you to try out! 
It's not about winning or losing, but …
Practice makes …
A joy shared is …
Time and tide …
A little learning …
The course of true love …
Health is …
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| | | Surf (13+)
This is another poem that popped in I know not whence. I know nowt of surfing!
#2348060 by PNGravebound- 📓  |
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Thank you for the responses to "The Words We Need" !
Well written. In my mind language is ever evolving. In my high school we created our own nonsensical language that we understood but our teachers didn't. What the world needs is a simple form of language all people can understand. Good luck with that those is power (corporate, political, religious) like that we cannot communicate effectively with each other. Those who want to communicate will always find a way. Thanks for your words they have meaning. GrandpaJim 
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Your newsletter on words was fascinating. I loved the Bill Bryson video, although it kept me up way too late. Winchester Jones 
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Thank you for sharing the language of your culture. I like having links all in one issue to easily jump to places I want to go. Nice job! tracker
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This was really interesting. I like that there is more than one word for aunt. It makes sense. When I was growing up, I had to ask "which grandpa?" Because my parents used to say we're going to grandpas and the travel time and experience was completely different at each one's home. Finally my parents broke down and started calling one Grandpa Allred and the other Grandpa Reynolds.
As far as feelings go, I also wish I had an emotional dictionary. There are different kinds of stress, different kind of surprise and different types of love. For example I often whisper "I love you," when I think of my husband. But I also say "I love you," to my brother , my dad and close friends. Sometimes I wish English had more than one word for love. (The Greeks did. They had Storge, Agape, Philos, and Eros. I wonder why English never differentiates between those different feelings.) Spudy Specter👻
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Good newsletter.
Yes, languages evolve, as do societies.
"Eskimo" is an Algonquin derogation meaning "eaters of raw meat" directed at the Inuit. Culturally, the Inuit see nothing wrong with raw meat.
And so all Alaska and Canadian Indigenous People are called "Eskimo" oldgreywolf on wheels
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Good examples. In Korea there are different words for uncle and aunt depending on their relationship to one's parents. There is a generic word for aunt and uncle which people use for people much older than them, for people a little bit older they use brother either older or younger so sister younger or older
So I am a komobu meaning my brother-in-law's sister's husband she is a komo. She could be an emo (sister of one's mom) and I would be a emobu. She is either ajimoni (aunt) samoongim (respected senior women) or halmoni (grandother). I am either an ajogsi, Uncle sunsanenim, teacher or respected senior to you or halapogi grandpa and usually prefaced by Migook meaning American Uncle etc JCosmos 
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For Authors: October 29, 2025 Issue [#13416]
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