parents, but if you wish to know a father observe his son. (Chinese). It is "pan" from the same tree, how will it be different? (Assamese). Let it be torn, let it be broken; it is still a scarf of fine silk; let him be young, let him be old; he is still the son of Bhuiya (n). The silk referred to in this proverb is of a fine quality and obtained from the cocoons of mulberry fed worms. The scarf that is made of this silk is often beautifully embroidered with red and sometimes with gold threads. Being a son of Bhuiya (n) is an honor because of their position as landholders and their relation to the government. (Assamese). Like priest like people. (English). Look at the mother before affiancing the daughter. (Ser bian, Tamil). Look at the mother take the daughter. (Osmanli). Observe the edge and take the linen; observe the mother and take the daughter. (Turkish). Plant a mango and eat a mango; plant a tamarind and eat a tamarind. (Hindustani). That which does not resemble its master is spurious. (Syriac). The branch of a rose wherever it grows is always a rose. (Persian). The calf is like the cow and the colt is like its father-if not entirely yet certainly in some degree. (Hindustani). The child had a rid tongue like its father. (English). (Gaelic). The daughter of a crab does not give birth to a bird. (Chinese, Oji). Dam in this proverb refers to a mother, though the word is sometimes applied in old literature to a wife. The devil is the father of lies. See John 8:44 (English). The devil's child the devil's luck. (English). The donkey colt by force of growing becomes a donkey. This proverb is generally applied to one who exaggerates in telling a story. The faults of a mother are visited on her children. (Tamil). The future crop is known in the grain. (Tamil). The hen scratches and the chickens learn. (Kashmiri). The mother a radish, the father an onion and the son a saffron flower-i.e. The son of a worthless father and mother will be worthless. (Panjabi). The mother was an innkeeper and the son is Fatteh Khan -i.e. The mother is of a common grade and her son puts on the airs of a conqueror though he himself is The muddy fountain spurts forth muddy water. (English). The rose from rose is born, the thorn from thorn. (Pashto). The serpent brings forth nothing but little serpents. (Arabian). The spawn of frogs will become frogs. (Japanese). The thieving dog's pup may not be a thief yet, but he will sniff about-i.e. The thieving dog's pup may not be an actual thief but he will have a thieving propensity. (Pashto). They are all loaves of one batch or cakes of the same griddle, whether small or great-i.e. They are all of the same descent or family. (Hindustani). They are seeds out of the same bowl. (Telugu). The young of a cuckoo will be a cuckoo and cause the crow grief and disappointment-i.e. will put ashes on the face, that being the common sign of mourning and distress of mind in the East. The meaning is that a cuckoo will be a cuckoo even though brought up by a crow foster-mother. (Behar). The young of a snake is a snake and its young one is a scorpion. (Tamil). What is bred in bone won't out of the flesh. (English). We may not expect a good whelp from a bad dog. (Hebrew). Whence is this twig? From this shrub.-i.e. Bad children spring from bad parents, and good children from good parents. (Modern Greek). Who shall teach young fish to swim? (Hindustani). Will a child—daughter—fail to follow its mother's track? (Telugu). CONTRADICTING PROVERBS A beggar's son struts like a peer. (Hindustani). A diligent mother has a lazy daughter. (German). A dog had a young one which grew worse than his father. (Syrian). A light heeled mother makes a heavy heeled daughter. (English). A skitting cow has often had a good calf. (English). A son like the mother, and the daughter like the father. (Gaelic). Diligent mother, idle daughter. (Portuguese). From good parents a black calamity was born. (Pashto). From the thorn bush comes the rose. (Hebrew). He died as a dog and freed us of service, but he left a whelp behind that was worse than his father. (Hindustani). Many a good cow hath but a bad calf. (English). Many a good father has a bad son. (English). Parched maize is the excellent offspring of millet—i.e. A good child of worthless parents. (Hindustani). Parents who have no equals rear children unlike themselves-i.e. Good parents rear children unlike themselves. (Hebrew). The active mother makes the lazy daughter. (Gaelic). The father, a petty merchant, the son a lord. This proverb is used contemptuously in speaking of an upstart. (Hindustani). The father wore a mallet about his neck, the son a precious necklace. (Hindustani). The wise man is father of the fool. (West African). What does the beetle beget? Insects worse than itself. Sometimes this proverb is quoted: "What does the scorpion beget? Insects worse than itself." (Hebrew). You are no son like the father. (Gaelic). You'll never fill your father's shoes. (English). 36, 99, 155, 302 A FRIEND IN NEED IS A FRIEND IN DEED Friendship shows itself by love and ministry. The origin of this proverb is unknown but as its thought has been expressed by a multitude of writers in olden times we may well believe that it has been known and used for more than two thousand years. Plautus, the Roman dramatist, two hundred years before the coming of Christ, declared that "Nothing is more friendly to a man than a friend in need," which is but another form of the proverb. The saying, "He that's no my friend at a pinch is no my friend at a'" is another form of the phrase, "He that's no my friend at a pinch is not worth snuff," or as we would say “a pinch of snuff," which expresses in a quaint way the thought that the test of friendship is helpfulness in time of need. When the Telugus ask for proof of friendship they say, "Would you comfort me or remove my grief, or if necessary would you plunge?" That is, plunge in the water to save me were I in peril of drowning. This understanding of the proverb is in accord with the universal conception of true friendship. |