I heard a saying

There are certain sayings - proverbs - that have been included in common vernacular, that while only consisting of a few words convey a deep and profound meaning.

I am fond of sayings, as they reflect an innate sense of common sense and wisdom in a simple way. 

Here are a few of my favourites. 

I really appreciate 'An apple a day keep the doctor away', as it suggests that simple, regular actions have a positive health benefit.

Similarly, 'A stitch in time saves nine' could be considered from a health perspective, however in more general terms, I resonate with the idea that small actions now will bring great rewards in the future.

I also use 'Measure twice, cut once' to reinforce the concept of making sure before committing to a course of action. It's similar to 'A stitch in time saves nine', especially as it relates to taking the time to validate an approach in an early stage. The saying 'Haste makes waste' reinforces the idea of rushing from a negative perspective.

    

In a vein which is like 'Measure twice, cut once' are the sayings 'Don't count your chickens before they hatch', 'Don't put all your eggs in one basket', and 'It ain't over to the fat lady sings' which all refer to the folly of relying on something that has not yet come to fruition without counting the cost.

    

Sayings like 'Garbage in, garbage out' and ' If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys' suggest that results are limited when poor quality ingredients are used.

There are some sayings which seem to have been lost in translation...or maybe interpreted in different ways. For example, 'You can't have your cake and eat it too' referred to the tension between instant gratification and saving it for later. 

However, it has been reinterpreted to suggest a decision between possession and consumption. Of course, there is no point possessing food that you cannot eat, and so many have advocated cake possession and consumption.

On one level, this misses the original point, but on another level, the value of a cake is when it is eaten... 

Some sayings, however, have stood the test of time. Like 'Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones', which echos the Golden Rule: 'Do not do something to others which you would not like yourself '. 

Another deep principle is summed up in 'With great power comes great responsibility' and talks about the importance of acting with ethics and avoiding hypocrisy. It is very difficult to listen to someone when they don't act in alignment with their words. 

Some sayings, too, are no longer considered common sense. 

Take 'Ignorance is bliss' or 'What you don't know won't hurt you', which suggests that knowledge can be harmful.  

In many cases, relevant knowledge is lucrative and bestows power, prestige and status. On the other side of the coin, the saying 'He knows enough to be dangerous' implies limited knowledge without acknowledgement of nuances and/or excessive arrogance.

And finally, the saying ' You can't always get what you want'. I heard my parents say that. 

I never heard my parents say 'Whatever the human mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve '. Perhaps I was being insistent, and they were tired of my exhuberant innocence. Perhaps they were exhausted after a long day or week.

No matter what, I won't share negativity with my children. 

My saying is: If you want it bad enough, then it's possible. 

And because I believe it, it's true.