Category Archives: Proverbs

“The road to heaven is paved with good intentions”

Nationality: american
Age: 60
Occupation: teacher
Residence: denver, colorado
Performance Date: 4/18/15
Primary Language: English

This was described by MG as an Irish proverb that she grew up with.

Who would say it?

MG: “All the older Irish people would say it. My mom said it and her mom said it too.”

What does it mean to you?

MG: “It means “oh I’m gonna do this stuff but I’m actually never going to do it”. Your father always does this, he’ll say “Oh I should call my uncle Tom” but then never does it or “Oh I should take Jack out for a ride in my car” but the never does it. The paved means they didn’t get to heaven so it’s the pathway to heaven but it doesn’t mean you actually get there. It doesn’t say the road to heaven IS good intentions it’s just PAVED with them.”

Do you think it reflects Irish culture?

MG: “Well it’s a very Catholic culture so it’s very motivated by getting to heaven. So religiously I think it’s Irish”

I thought this proverb was interesting because it was basically saying it’s ok to not follow through on your plans. I had definitely heard the proverb before but didn’t think this was the interpretation. I thought it was particularly interesting when MG said “the road to heaven isn’t good intentions” which is what you would logically think, especially if it has religious connotations. I think this could, in some way, be a proverb to help someone battle guilt about falling through on plans. That way you at least show that you had the intention even if you couldn’t follow through.

In the Madonna song 4 Minutes:

http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/madonna/4minutes.html

 

“Life’s a shit sandwich”

Nationality: american
Age: 60
Occupation: accountant
Residence: denver, colorado
Performance Date: 4/21/15
Primary Language: English

Proverb that was said in RG’s family: “Life’s a shit sandwhich, the more bread you have the less shit you have to eat”

Who told you this proverb?

RG: “I think it was my Aunt Arlene. She would say it a lot.”

What does it mean to you?

RG: “The connotation is the more money you have the less shit you have to eat. Basically life is hard except if you have more money it’s less hard. I think it’s supposed to be a motivation to make more money. So people with more money have a better life I guess. My Aunt Arlene was very impressed with money”

This proverb was interesting mainly because it had kind of a negative message. While many proverbs seem to be enlightening, this one kind of promotes greed. I also thought it related nicely to the “New Jersey joke” that was also told by RG. Both contained vulgar language and a vulgar connotation which plays into the stereotypes of people from New Jersey being rude.

Mas Sabe el Diablo por Viejo que por Diablo

Nationality: Mexican
Age: 51
Occupation: Housewife
Residence: Koreatown
Performance Date: April 29, 2015
Primary Language: Spanish

RH was born in Santa Catarina La Chatao, a pueblo in Oaxaca, Mexico. All of the proverbs that she knows she learned from her mother who learned them from her mother and so on. Proverbs[Dichos] are a more subtle way of communicating in Mexican culture, and are ways of having entire conversations with only one sentence. Most dichos speak of faults that can be found in human nature and how that can lead to fall out among kin and kith groups.

 

 

Mas sabe el diablo por viejo que por diablo

 

The devil knows more due to being old rather than being the devil

 

To my mother this proverb means that people are knowledgeable due to their age and experience rather than for a title they may hold as is the case of the devil. It is an interesting saying and shows the contrast of a culture where respect for the elderly is expected which is unlike American culture where respect is given due to titles rather than age.

Dime de que Presumes y te Dire de que Careses

Nationality: Mexican
Age: 51
Occupation: Housewife
Residence: Koreatown
Performance Date: April 29, 2015
Primary Language: Spanish

RH was born in Santa Catarina La Chatao, a pueblo in Oaxaca, Mexico. All of the proverbs that she knows she learned from her mother who learned them from her mother and so on. Proverbs[Dichos] are a more subtle way of communicating in Mexican culture, and are ways of having entire conversations with only one sentence. Most dichos speak of faults that can be found in human nature and how that can lead to fall out among kin and kith groups.

 

 

Dime de que presumes y te dire de que careses

 

Tell me what you boast of and I will tell you of what you are made of

 

 

For my mother this proverb means that a person makes presumptions about their worth without having proved themselves. It is used when a person boasts about being able to do things but never showing that they are capable of doing them. It is mostly used against people who try to make themselves out to be of a higher caste/position than they are.

 

Dios los Crea y Ellos Se Juntan

Nationality: Mexican
Age: 51
Occupation: Housewife
Residence: Koreatown
Performance Date: April 29, 2015
Primary Language: Spanish

RH was born in Santa Catarina La Chatao, a pueblo in Oaxaca, Mexico. All of the proverbs that she knows she learned from her mother who learned them from her mother and so on. Proverbs[Dichos] are a more subtle way of communicating in Mexican culture, and are ways of having entire conversations with only one sentence. Most dichos speak of faults that can be found in human nature and how that can lead to fall out among kin and kith groups.

 

 

Dios los crea y ellos se juntan

 

God creates them and they bring themselves together

 

 

This proverb is used in a negative context. It speaks of two people who have faults in common and come together thus increasing the negative aspects of themselves and each other. It is used in reference to couples who cause conflicts with other people, usually by spreading rumors and gossip.