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A Leading Collection Of Chinese Proverbs

A Leading Collection Of Chinese Proverbs image
Parent Issue
Day
13
Month
November
Year
1874
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

The excellence of aphorisms has been said to consist chiefly in the comprehension of some obvious and useful truth in a few words ; and if thia be the case, the Chinese language is peculiarly adopted for the proverbs, for it possesses, frotn its peculiar, structure, a beauty and pointedness of expression which, bowever, no degree of care or pains can adequately convey into a translation. Let us cito frora various sources a few of the umerous aphorisms, maxims and Droverbs current among the Chinese. By a long journey we know a horse's strength ; so ïength of days shows a man's ïeart. To correct an evil which already exists s not so well as to forsee and prevent it. Wine and good dinners niake abun1ance of friends, but in the time of adversity not one is to be found. Cautious conduot under circumstances of suspicion isinculcated somewhat oddly :y the following : In a field of meions do not pull up your shoe ; under a plum tree do not adjust your cap. " Tempus fugit" becomes in Chinese, ' Time flies like an arrow ; days and monthe like a weaver's shuttle." Do not anxiously expect what is not yet come ; do not vainly regret what is ilready past. If you would understand the disposi;ion of any man, look at his companions; if you would know that of a father, observe his son. The fame of men's good actions seldom o beyond their own doors, but their evil deed8 are carried to the distance of a thousand miles. Though powerful medicines are nauseous to the taste, they are good for the disease ; though candid advice is unpleasant to the ear, it is profitable to the conduct. The evidence of others is not comparable to personal expenence, nor is " I tieard" as good as " I saw." He who at once knows himself and knows others will triumph as often as he contends. It is too late to pull the rein when the horse has gained the brink of the precipice; the time for stopping the leak is past when the vessel is in the midst of the river. To meet with an old friend in a distant country may be compared to the delightfulness of rain after a long drought. The truth of the following sentiment is, we all know, not confined to China : Though a poor man should live in the midst of a noisy market, no man will ask about him ; though the rich man should bury himself among the mountains, his relations will come to him from afar. A single conversation across the table with a wise man is better than ten years' mere study of books. True gold fears not the flre. " A toad in a well cannot behold the whole heavens," is used in reference to coutracted ideas.

Article

Subjects
Old News
Michigan Argus