When I was a kid (and yes, I was weird then, too) I used to collect proverbs the way other kids collected... I don't know... what were they collecting?I wrote my favourites down in an exercise book - and although I've only recently rediscovered the book, it turns out I've been using some of these lesser-known proverbs over the years even though no-one else has heard of them - just another reason why people look at me funny.
But it has always saddened me that people stick to the same old sayings when there are rich pickings:
- He who has a head of wax should not walk in the sun
- Far fowls have fine feathers
- You a lady, I a lady, who will milk the cow?
- Praise is not pudding
- He who speaks the truth must have one foot in the stirrup
- He that thatches his house with turds will have more teachers than reachers
- A cat in gloves catches no mice
- Random stomping seldom catches bugs
- He that lives in hope, dances without music
- Toasted cheese hath no master
I mention all this now because one of my favourites (because it is so very true and I really can't think of another that says the same thing so appositely) is:
It's a proper proverb... it says so here.
- Hungry dogs will eat dirty puddings.
I mention this, because my very short story - Hungry dogs, dirty puddings - was featured last week on 3:AM Magazine. (Rated 'R' for adult content and obscenity - mum will be so proud!)
Btw, looking for an illustration for this post, I found the one above that would have done nicely for my Mousetrap post. Really, I'd have liked to use this from the Saatchi Galleries but am probably not allowed to.
