Six Linked Proverbs, Essay Example

In this paper I will discuss three favorite proverbs of mine, linking each one by its meaning with an African proverb.

Have the courage to say no. I link this to the African proverb He who asks questions, cannot avoid the answers. We often begin to say no by asking a question. If someone asks to borrow money, you might ask Why? Didn’t you get paid today? That’s the first step towards saying no. But asking a question also means getting an answer, like the proverb says. And that means listening to the answer and then having the courage to say why you find it unsatisfactory.

Have the courage to face the truth links to If you speak, speak to him who understands you. Having the courage to face the truth often means confronting someone, calling them out. And that means speaking to the person who will instantly understand exactly what you are talking about. But it also can mean confronting yourself about your problem. In that case, the him you are speaking to will be you. But in both cases, to face the truth means to understand.

The best never rest links to what bad luck is for one man is good luck for another. The first two examples above are linked because they express the same idea. I have linked this last pair because they are the opposite of each other. The best never rest deletes luck from the equation of success. Waiting on Lady Luck is passive and fatalistic. It advocates acceptance as a way of life. The first says that you can succeed if you want, and tells you how to do it. It’s a simple recipe that challenges. The other way only hopes. I’d rather do that one last rep than toss the dice.