Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Collection Of Chinese Proverbs And Apothegms,
A COLLECTION OF CHINESE PROVERBS AND APOTHEGMS ,
WITH REMARKS , COLLECTED FROM THE BEST AUTHORITIES .
THE great Selden observes , that ' the proverbs of several nations were much studied by Bishop Andrews , and the reason he gave was , because by them he knew the minds of several nations , which is a brave thing ; as we count him a wise man that knows the minds and insides of men , which is done by knowing what is habitual to them . Proverbs are habitual to a nationbeing transmitted from
fa-, ther to son . ' * As the Empire of China has recently engaged much consideration , and that deservedly , as well from its magnitude and importance , as its antiquity and peculiarity , we think hardly a better moral picture of this people can be given than a collection of their common saj' - ings . Some occasional illustrations are given ; and on the whole , it
is presumed , that the reader will be pleased and instructed with this selection of valuable observations . . : A bark of plain boards , joined together only with glue , cannot hold out long against the large billows . [ That is , where pains have not been taken to form the mind , it will probably sink under advert sity . l
A blemish may be taken out of a diamond , by strongly polishing it , but a blemish in the words of a king can never be effaced ; A diamond with flaws is preferred before a common stone that hath none . [ Meaning , that great excellencies , with some imperfections , are better than a faultless insipidity . ^ A drum , if it be not beat , gives no noise : a bell , if it be not struck uponreturns no sound .
, A fault acknowledged is half amended . A flower is pleasing to the eye , while the fir-tree hath nothing beautiful in it ; the splendour of the one is not an equivalent for the durableness of the other . A good beginning is of importance in all undertakings ; and a slight fault may have fatal consequences .
A good founder can use every metal ; an able lapidary the coarsest stones . [ The English proverb is similar—A good workman never complains of bis tools . * } A grave and majestic outside is the palace where virtue resides . — [ The Chinese are very particular in the article of dress . ]
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Collection Of Chinese Proverbs And Apothegms,
A COLLECTION OF CHINESE PROVERBS AND APOTHEGMS ,
WITH REMARKS , COLLECTED FROM THE BEST AUTHORITIES .
THE great Selden observes , that ' the proverbs of several nations were much studied by Bishop Andrews , and the reason he gave was , because by them he knew the minds of several nations , which is a brave thing ; as we count him a wise man that knows the minds and insides of men , which is done by knowing what is habitual to them . Proverbs are habitual to a nationbeing transmitted from
fa-, ther to son . ' * As the Empire of China has recently engaged much consideration , and that deservedly , as well from its magnitude and importance , as its antiquity and peculiarity , we think hardly a better moral picture of this people can be given than a collection of their common saj' - ings . Some occasional illustrations are given ; and on the whole , it
is presumed , that the reader will be pleased and instructed with this selection of valuable observations . . : A bark of plain boards , joined together only with glue , cannot hold out long against the large billows . [ That is , where pains have not been taken to form the mind , it will probably sink under advert sity . l
A blemish may be taken out of a diamond , by strongly polishing it , but a blemish in the words of a king can never be effaced ; A diamond with flaws is preferred before a common stone that hath none . [ Meaning , that great excellencies , with some imperfections , are better than a faultless insipidity . ^ A drum , if it be not beat , gives no noise : a bell , if it be not struck uponreturns no sound .
, A fault acknowledged is half amended . A flower is pleasing to the eye , while the fir-tree hath nothing beautiful in it ; the splendour of the one is not an equivalent for the durableness of the other . A good beginning is of importance in all undertakings ; and a slight fault may have fatal consequences .
A good founder can use every metal ; an able lapidary the coarsest stones . [ The English proverb is similar—A good workman never complains of bis tools . * } A grave and majestic outside is the palace where virtue resides . — [ The Chinese are very particular in the article of dress . ]