Wednesday, November 04, 2009
The 21st Century Proverbs
The meek shall inherit the earth
when the arrogant are done despoiling it.
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A fool and his money are a friend indeed.
A friend in need should get a bank loan.
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A profit has no honor in mortgage-backed securities.
In his own time, a prophet cannot be heard in the din of prophesying.
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Absolute power is a joy forever, and a thing of beauty!
Constant opinion polling corrupts absolutely.
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All work and no play makes Jack a John D. Rockefeller.
John D. Rockefeller has servants throw parties for him.
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Behind every great man is a codependent.
A woman's place is in the driver's seat.
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When a star falls an angel goes to hell.
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When a star falls in Hollywood he goes to rehab.
From there he goes straight to Spagos in a limo for a three-picture deal at lunch.
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The new broom knows not of what it sweeps.
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A stopped clock and Glen Beck are both right twice a day.
And Beck is having a stupid argument with the clock.
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Rock stars give passes to girls who're fun lasses.
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A journey of a thousand miles begins with a stupid question.
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A penny saved is worth about two birds in the bush.
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The old saw no longer makes the cut.
These "perverbs" originally appeared on October 23, 2009 in the NYTIMES.COM
Schott's Vocab weblog, as contributions to a competition on proverb-mashups.
My favorite proverbial sayings from recent decades:
Dorothy Parker was challenged to say something funny on horticulture and...
"You can lead a horticulture but you can't make her think."
Also Woody Allen's phys ed wisdom is a fave: "Those who can't do teach.
Those who can't teach teach gym." Lastly, Groucho Marx:
"Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside a dog,
it's too dark to read."
when the arrogant are done despoiling it.
##
A fool and his money are a friend indeed.
A friend in need should get a bank loan.
##
A profit has no honor in mortgage-backed securities.
In his own time, a prophet cannot be heard in the din of prophesying.
##
Absolute power is a joy forever, and a thing of beauty!
Constant opinion polling corrupts absolutely.
##
All work and no play makes Jack a John D. Rockefeller.
John D. Rockefeller has servants throw parties for him.
##
Behind every great man is a codependent.
A woman's place is in the driver's seat.
##
When a star falls an angel goes to hell.
##
When a star falls in Hollywood he goes to rehab.
From there he goes straight to Spagos in a limo for a three-picture deal at lunch.
##
The new broom knows not of what it sweeps.
##
A stopped clock and Glen Beck are both right twice a day.
And Beck is having a stupid argument with the clock.
##
Rock stars give passes to girls who're fun lasses.
##
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a stupid question.
##
A penny saved is worth about two birds in the bush.
##
The old saw no longer makes the cut.
These "perverbs" originally appeared on October 23, 2009 in the NYTIMES.COM
Schott's Vocab weblog, as contributions to a competition on proverb-mashups.
My favorite proverbial sayings from recent decades:
Dorothy Parker was challenged to say something funny on horticulture and...
"You can lead a horticulture but you can't make her think."
Also Woody Allen's phys ed wisdom is a fave: "Those who can't do teach.
Those who can't teach teach gym." Lastly, Groucho Marx:
"Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside a dog,
it's too dark to read."
