Proverbs
Yes, this is another rambling. Got sick of hearing people using proverbs as lame excuses to justify just about anything. The last straw was last week, when one person at work pulled the old proverb, “patience is a virtue” to justify her utter carelessness (of committing the same exact mistake countless times; I’ve given her probably 3,4,5? strikes before calling it), thinking that a nice proverb would somehow legitimize it.
While most use proverbs as a pithy way of expressing morals, there are many who abuse them. Here are some of the ones I hear so often:
- You can’t straighten a dogs tail
Used as justification for any bad habits. It might be true that one cannot easily change certain habits, but most of these excuses refer to the remaining 99% that can be changed. I can dismiss the excuse in one shot: promise of a large reward (money, promotion, recognition) or punishment (like a demotion) will straighten out ones tail in no time. Even a simple change in environment makes a difference. For example, a person might find it easier to control certain bad habits at work (his temper, smoking, littering,…) than at home. This is because one is more self-conscious in a company, as it’s a matter of professionalism (or else suffer the consequences). - Be a Roman in Rome.
Used as justification for conformity, that non-conformity is bad. Americans love culture. Instead of shrinking away and hiding your culture you should consider sharing it. People think stripping off their cultures is the best way to integrate into a new land. Need not be, as that eventually leaves a land deprived of any culture (which is what has happened in the USA, and hence their thirst for the cultural experience – even if it means traveling to remote parts of the world to find it or even theme parks to simulate it). An alternative would be to keep your culture and integrate (share, communicate, invite, etc.). And vice versa if you’re in India, give them you’re American piece of mind (good civic sense and certain courtesies for example). - Ignorance is bliss.
Used as justification for stupidity, in-action, or apathy. First of all ignorance is not bliss. Detachment under full awareness or knowing is bliss. Some idiot said it, and dingbats quotes it. - Curiosity killed the cat.
Used as justification that asking too many questions or thinking too much into certain matters, is bad for you. Right, when half the worlds clashes are due to ignorance. - Patience/Tolerance/Forgiveness is a virtue
Used as justification for laziness or to avoid punishment or reprimand, or to exploit or take advantage (as history shows us, the many tolerant cultures have been destroyed by parasitic/virulent religions). If businesses or nations were to follow this rule blindly then they’d be screwed. My rule: three strikes is all the forgiveness you’ll get (at work only of course). If you keep forgiving them, they’ll keep exploiting the situation. Example: if an employee strikes out on three very liberal chances to redeem himself, it would be grossly unfair (to him, and to others who are working overtime because of his incompetence) to still keep him. - Not everyone can be like that
Though not a proverb, this is the most famous of all. Even at the simplest behest, like very basic civic or environmental sense or ethics, you’ll get the apathetic response “not everyone can be like that”. - Opposites attract
Another overused phrase. This law applies, when you are talking about polarities (whether it be electricity, magnetism, or gender). These are universal laws of nature. This does not apply to any other entity (may it be the human mind, ideas, societies, nations,…) When people take “opposites attract” literally they are committing two logical fallacies: one is generalization beyond the original domain, second is anthropomorphizing physical principles. - Life is meant to be enjoyed / Like to have fun / Live and let live / Like to live a balanced life
Quoted by shallow people (particularly those bought up by the mass market pop-culture) who have a very limited perception of what enjoying life (or “fun”) is, and see everything only through that lens. They’d probably drive a gas-guzzling environmentally hazerdous vehicle, so that they may “live and let live”. To them, “a balanced life = to enjoy everything”. Probably the concept “balanced life = sustainable living = enjoy life” is a bit too deep for them to understand. Mass market pop culture keeps them in a drug induced stupor by pumping them with what is “fun, cool, fashion, etc.”. Prevents them from realizing their true inalienable nature as the Atman (and the harmonious living, contentment, peace of mind that accompanies it). The Atman is permanent, unchanging, steady, and the foundation base of ones soul/jiva-atman — unlike the ever-changing drugs of life one is bombarded with that keeps you craving for more. In essence “the like to have fun” have sold their souls to the mass market pop-culture — because you are not in control of yourself, but the drug dealer.