A WORD TO THE WISE

Advice is the only thing you get free in this world!

So abundant and frequently thrown around that people don’t even have the time to elaborate, every advice is distilled into proverbs, clichés and maxims. The wisdom of the ages condensed and packaged into phrases, ready to be dished out like the add-ons at a fast food joint!

But, have you ever wondered how such ‘conventional wisdom’ can contradict itself. For instance, while it's true that “Birds of a feather flock together”, there are instances when “opposites attract.”

I remember reading an article called ‘Dueling Proverbs’, in the 'Reader’s Digest', back in my School days. Ever since, I've been fascinated with sayings that cancel each other out.

It's quite hilarious to learn the opposite proverb and stump people, especially when they hurl them around without qualification!

I've listed a few of my favorite contradictions below; let’s see how many more you can find.

Read on, because…

“The truth will set you free” but “Ignorance is bliss”

“Great minds think alike” but “Idiots seldom differ”

“Absence makes the heart grow fonder” but “Out of sight is out of mind”

“Many hands make light work” but “Too many cooks spoil the broth”

“The more the merrier” but “Two's company, three's a crowd"

“The pen is mightier than the sword" but "Actions speak louder than words"

“Don't cross your bridges before you come to them” but “Forewarned is forearmed”

“Doubt is the beginning of wisdom” but “Faith will move mountains”

“One man's meat is another man's poison” but “What's good for the goose is good for the gander”

"The Devil is in the details" but "Don't sweat the small stuff"

“If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all” but “honesty is the best policy”

“The end does not justify the means” but “All's well that ends well”

“If you lie down with dogs, you'll get up with fleas” but “If you can't beat 'em, join 'em”

“If at first you don't succeed, try, try again” but “Don't beat a dead horse” 

And finally...

“Hold fast to the words of your ancestors” but “Wise men make proverbs and fools repeat them”