Adages of the Cyprus People
Adages of the Cyprus People
Plant
the tree of knowledge while you are still young to enjoy its fruits and
shade when you grow old
The
good things are obtained through labor and hard work
Patience
and persistence will help you succeed in life
You
can take a big bite but don't say a big word (you
should not brag because it may come back to haunt you later)
The
thief and the liar are happy only for the first year (dishonest
people will eventually be caught)
Siblings
walk for a mile together, talk for a mile together, and while they are
walking they are thinking about the time they will be separated (siblings
realize what they will miss when the time comes that they go their separate
ways)
An
uneducated person is like wood, which has not been worked on (the
importance of knowledge)
Remember
your past and forgive your children
Whoever
has a fly on him he swooshes it away (a
person's reaction when people talk and this guilty person thinks they
are referring to him)
From
a fool and a child you learn the truth (they
have no inhibitions)
Whoever
is sick goes to the doctor (if you need
help, go get help)
Whoever
loses an old coat, wants a new one (when
someone loses something and he thinks it is worth the same as a more expensive
replacement)
White
dog, black dog, all the dogs come from the same species (all
bad things no matter how different are still all equally bad)
You
don't believe me but you believe my donkey (someone
who does not trust a respected person but instead trusts an unknowledgeable
person)
Come
grandfather so I may show you your fields (an
inexperienced youth tries teach the experienced elder what to do)
You
are the father and the godfather (someone
who tries to do everything and take all responsibility leaving nothing
for others to do)
When
the bride is born, she resembles her mother-in-law
What
does not concern you, don't ask
The
slow water makes a hole in the stone (a person
who is reasonable and speaks softly achieves more than the person who
speaks loudly and uses threats)