We Have A Lot To Learn
These proverbs are 5,000 years old—yep, way older than the pyramids! Back then, no paper existed, so folks carved their wisdom into clay. And honestly, don’t you think they still hit home today?
"A smart man does not transgress against his mother."
In other words, mother knows best!
Michel wal, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
"Putting unwashed hands to one's mouth is disgusting."
Wash your hands!
Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
"He who possesses many things is constantly on guard."
Mo money, mo problems.
Jacktandy000, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
"Ignoramuses are numerous in the palace."
If you know, you know.
Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons
"Talking endlessly is what humankind has most on its mind."
Social media.
Louvre Museum, CC BY 2.5, Wikimedia Commons
"A man raising his hand in anger does not see clearly."
Don't do something you might regret.
Marie-Lan Nguyen, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
"When present, it was considered a loincloth; when lost, it is considered fine clothing."
Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you got til it's gone.
"A dishonest man chases after a woman's flower."
Players gonna play!
"The lion who lives a life of compassion will receive it."
Give a little, get a little.
"Hand added to hand, and a man's house is built up."
It takes a village...
Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin, CC BY 4.0 , Wikimedia Commons
"Tell a lie and then tell the truth: it will be considered a lie."
The boy who cried wolf.
Juan Carlos Fonseca Mata, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
"For his pleasure he got married. On his thinking it over he got divorced."
Basically, maybe think things through before you tie the knot.
"The rich man's heart is sick, it is very sick indeed."
Billionaires, they're the real heroes.
"Possessions are flying birds -- they never find a place to settle."
You can't take it with you!
"He who insults is insulted. He who sneers is sneered at."
Hurt people hurt people.
Osama Shukir Muhammed, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
"While you still have light, grind the flour."
Do the work while you still can!
"What has submitted will exhibit resistance."
War never changes.
"A hand will stretch out towards an outstretched hand. A hand will open for an opened hand."
I get by with a little help from my friends.
Z.g.eghtedar, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
"He who shaves his head acquires ever more hair."
Every teenage boy has heard this lesson.
"Let there be unused land adjacent to a house."
Not in MY backyard!
"Something offered is not offered. Something finished is not finished. Nothing changes."
Nothing new under the sun.
"Wealth is far away, poverty is close at hand."
Are you closer to being billionaires or homeless?
Steven Zucker, Smarthistory co-founder, Flickr
"A heart never created hatred; speech created hatred."
Twitter.
ArchaiOptix, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
"When battle approaches, when war arises, the plans of the gods, beloved by the gods, are destroyed."
The best laid plans of mice and men...
"By following craftiness, one learns how to be crafty. By following wisdom, one learns how to be wise."
Point yourself in the way you want to go!
"Fate is a dog, well able to bite."
Careful.
Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
"Pleasure is created. Sins are absolved. Life is rejuvenated."
We're here for a good time, not a long time!
Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin FRCP, CC BY-SA 4.0 , Wikimedia Commons
"You should not cut the throat of that which has already had its throat cut."
Beating a dead horse.
"He who knows but does not speak is a fool."
Say what you gotta say!
"A palace will fall of its own accord."
Nothing lasts forever.
"Your worthiness is the result of chance."
JK it's 100% hard work :)
ArchaiOptix, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
"A loving heart builds houses. A hating heart destroys houses."
Build, don't destroy.
"Let the favour be repaid to him who repays a favour."
What goes around, comes around!
"One should pay attention to an old man's words. One should submit oneself to his protection."
Listen to the wisdom of the elderly.
"Fate is a raging storm blowing over the Land."
The times they are a' changin,
"If a singer knows only one song but makes the sound pleasant, he is indeed a singer! [...] When a singer's voice is sweet, he is indeed a singer."
Believe in yourself!
"The battle-club would not find out your name -- it would just find your flesh."
The sword is mightier than the pen.
"Flies enter an open mouth."
Don't waste your breath. Literally.
"The sun never leaves my heart, which surpasses a garden."
Love is all.
"He could not overcome his fears, so he cut off what was fuelling them."
Try it sometime.
"If a dog snarls, throw a morsel into his mouth."
You catch more flies with honey...
"Whatever the man in authority said, it was not pleasant. Whatever the man in authority said, it was not right."
Facts.
Oregon State University, Flickr
"To be wealthy and demand more is an abomination to a god."
Don't be greedy.
"Who can compete with righteousness? It creates life."
Be nice for goodness sake.
"The songs of a city are its diviners."
We look to art to understand the world.
"One does not marry a three-year-old wife, as a donkey does."
What are we ANIMALS?
"As long as you live you should not increase evil by telling lies; for if you do, to succumb will be your lot."
It's a slippery slope.
"Good is in the hands. Evil is also in the hands."
It's in your power to do either.
Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
"The liar is quarrelsome. He always lies. He always slanders. Treacherous! Malicious! Shifty-eyed!"
Sound like anyone you know?
"The voice of the duck is the glory of the marshes."
As true today as the day it was written.
BabelStone, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
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