5_200426_Proverbs- Ideas about How to Live

Proverbs: Ideas about How to Live

Now, the VOA Special English program, WORDS AND THEIR STORIES.

Today we explain more popular proverbs. A proverb is a short,well known saying that expresses a common truth or belief. Proverbs are populararound the world.

Many listeners have sent us their favorite proverbs. They giveadvice about how to live. We begin with two popular proverbs about stayinghealthy by eating good food: One is an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Anotheris you are what you eat.

Several proverbs about birds also give advice. You may haveheard this one: The early bird catches the worm. This means a person whogets up early, or acts quickly, has the best chance of success.

Another famous proverb is a bird in the hand is worthtwo in the bush. This means you should not risk losing something you haveby seeking something that is not guaranteed.

Here is another piece of advice: Do not count yourchickens before they are hatched. In other words, you should not think toomuch about some future event before it really happens.

Another proverb warns do not put all your eggs in one basket. This means you should not put all of your resources together in one placebecause you could risk losing everything at one time. Many Americans learnedthis the hard way by investing all their money in stock shares, which then lostvalue. Another proverb says a fool and his money are soon parted. Thismeans someone who acts unwisely with money will lose it.

Here is more advice: If at first you don't succeed, try, tryagain. Also, never put off until tomorrow what you can do today.

You might learn that haste makes waste if you dosomething so fast, resulting in mistakes. Most people would agree withthis proverb: honesty is the best policy.

Yet another proverb advises us not to be concerned aboutsomething bad that you cannot change. It says there is no use crying overspilled milk.

Do you agree with the proverb that children should be seenand not heard? Maybe you have told your children that hard work never hurtanyone. But other people say that all work and no play makes Jack a dullboy. They believe it is not wise to spend all your time working and neverhaving fun.

Finally, here is one of our favorite proverbs: People wholive in glass houses should not throw stones. This means you should notcriticize other people unless you are perfect yourself.

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