Quotes, aphorisms, proverbs or whatever you want to call them — I'm a junkie. I picked up the habit from my father, who was an Associated Press journalist. Readers of my nationally syndicated column will recognize them as morals.
They need to be short, snappy and to the point. A good moral or proverb must teach a lesson, and I am not offended when I hear they are readers' favorite part of my column.
Readers tell me that my morals are displayed on their refrigerators, company bulletin boards, auto dashboards and office walls.
One of my sources is reading proverbs from around the world, since we know so many of the American proverbs. Do some of these sound familiar? People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. Look before you leap. Two heads are better than one. A friend in need is a friend indeed. An apple a day keeps the doctor away. Don't judge a book by its cover. If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Strike while the iron is hot. Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today.
My only problem is that I have collected so many that I will never be able to attach all of them to a column or book chapter. And I think these messages can stand alone, even though I would love to expand on them! Here are some of the best ones I have found from around the world. If you want to read more, a good resource is "Proverbs From Around the World," compiled by Norma Gleason.
A wise man changes his mind; a fool never will. — Spanish
He is bad who will not take advice, but he is a thousand times worse who takes every advice. — Irish
The thief is sorry that he is to be hanged, not that he is a thief. — English
