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  • Feb. 1, 1798
  • Page 40
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The Freemasons' Magazine, Feb. 1, 1798: Page 40

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    Article A COLLECTION OF CHINESE PROVERBS AND APOTHEGMS, ← Page 5 of 6 →
Page 40

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

A Collection Of Chinese Proverbs And Apothegms,

The demons hear the words of the bargain made witlj . the enchanter : the work overhears what the workman pronounces in his indignation . —[ The Chinese have a superstitious notion , that the curses of a workman , pronounced over a building , will prevent the family that lives in it from thriving- ] The Emperor lets loose so many murderers , dogs , and wolves , when he creates Mandarines . The husband and wife are like the

birds of the field ; in the evening they meet in the same thicket , but separate in the morning . The lamp goes out when the oil is spent . —[ A common expression to signify the exp iration of life . ] The more a man advances in virtue , the more sparing he is of his words .

The spirit Ngao presides over the hall , yet greater worship is due to the spirit Sao , who presides over the kitchen . — [ These are a kind of Lares or household gods , of which the spirit Ngaois deemed of superior rank to the spirit Sao , who yet is more regarded , as being more necessary to life . ]

The zeal of a good subject , and the piety of a dutiful son , ought never to relax with the ntimber of years . . To call in tygers , to drive out dogs . —[ So the English , Out of the frying pan into the fire . Tbe Chinese apply this proverb to the Tartars , who in the last century being called in to quell a rebellion , made themselves masters of the empire . ] Too many shepherds to one flock serve only to disturb it : but

if one shepherd keeps it , it marches along without straying . —[ The Chinese have no idea of any form of government but the monarchical , and cannot comprehend what is meant by a republic . This was experienced by the Dutch Embassadors in 16 58 , who , when they came to explain the nature of their government , could excite no other idea , but that they were a nest of pirates , living in a state of anarchy : to remove which suspicion , they were at last obliged to represent the Prince of Orange as their Sovereign . ]

17 and Ywe , when in a bark together , and exposed to shipwreck , will help one another to ride out the tempest . —[ These mean two bitter and implacable enemies . —English , Common danger makes friends . ' ] We are as people who have continually before their eyes the dead bodies of their parents . —[ It is thus the Chinese express the hi ghest

possible grief ] When a person hath need of present hel p , he thinks on his relations ; when he is i" danger , he depends on his old friends . Were you to pass the sea on a bladder , how carefully would you preserve it from the prick of a needle . —[ This fine saying expresses , that when all is at stake you cannot be too careful . The Scotch

your have a proverb of a similar meaning , They that ha' but ane egg to their dinner , hae need of a canny ( i . e . cautious ) cook . ] Whether the traveller quicken his pace , or march at his ordinary rate , he hath but so far to go . —[ Applied to human life : equivalent fo the Latin , Serius aut ciiius sedem properamus ad unam . ' l

“The Freemasons' Magazine: 1798-02-01, Page 40” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 11 June 2025, django:8000/periodicals/fmm/issues/fmm_01021798/page/40/.
  • List
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Title Category Page
Untitled Article 1
Untitled Article 2
LONDON: Article 2
TO CORRESPONDENTS, &c. Article 3
ACCOUNT OF KIEN-LONG, EMPEROR OF CHINA. Article 4
NOTICE OF SIR ANDREW DOUGLAS. Article 6
A RETROSPECTIVE VIEW OF THE LITERATURE OF 1797. Article 7
WISDOM AND FOLLY: A VISION. Article 12
THE LIFE OF XIMENES, ARCHBISHOP OF TOLEDO. Article 18
COMPARISON BETWEEN THE ANCIENTS AND MODERNS IN SCIENCE AND LITERATURE. Article 30
A COLLECTION OF CHINESE PROVERBS AND APOTHEGMS, Article 36
AN HISTORICAL ESSAY ON LONGEVITY. Article 41
COLONEL TITUS's LETTER TO OLIVER CROMWELL. Article 43
THE COLLECTOR. Article 45
REVIEW OF NEW PUBLICATIONS: Article 50
POETRY. Article 58
PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS. Article 62
MONTHLY CHRONICLE. Article 66
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Page 40

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

A Collection Of Chinese Proverbs And Apothegms,

The demons hear the words of the bargain made witlj . the enchanter : the work overhears what the workman pronounces in his indignation . —[ The Chinese have a superstitious notion , that the curses of a workman , pronounced over a building , will prevent the family that lives in it from thriving- ] The Emperor lets loose so many murderers , dogs , and wolves , when he creates Mandarines . The husband and wife are like the

birds of the field ; in the evening they meet in the same thicket , but separate in the morning . The lamp goes out when the oil is spent . —[ A common expression to signify the exp iration of life . ] The more a man advances in virtue , the more sparing he is of his words .

The spirit Ngao presides over the hall , yet greater worship is due to the spirit Sao , who presides over the kitchen . — [ These are a kind of Lares or household gods , of which the spirit Ngaois deemed of superior rank to the spirit Sao , who yet is more regarded , as being more necessary to life . ]

The zeal of a good subject , and the piety of a dutiful son , ought never to relax with the ntimber of years . . To call in tygers , to drive out dogs . —[ So the English , Out of the frying pan into the fire . Tbe Chinese apply this proverb to the Tartars , who in the last century being called in to quell a rebellion , made themselves masters of the empire . ] Too many shepherds to one flock serve only to disturb it : but

if one shepherd keeps it , it marches along without straying . —[ The Chinese have no idea of any form of government but the monarchical , and cannot comprehend what is meant by a republic . This was experienced by the Dutch Embassadors in 16 58 , who , when they came to explain the nature of their government , could excite no other idea , but that they were a nest of pirates , living in a state of anarchy : to remove which suspicion , they were at last obliged to represent the Prince of Orange as their Sovereign . ]

17 and Ywe , when in a bark together , and exposed to shipwreck , will help one another to ride out the tempest . —[ These mean two bitter and implacable enemies . —English , Common danger makes friends . ' ] We are as people who have continually before their eyes the dead bodies of their parents . —[ It is thus the Chinese express the hi ghest

possible grief ] When a person hath need of present hel p , he thinks on his relations ; when he is i" danger , he depends on his old friends . Were you to pass the sea on a bladder , how carefully would you preserve it from the prick of a needle . —[ This fine saying expresses , that when all is at stake you cannot be too careful . The Scotch

your have a proverb of a similar meaning , They that ha' but ane egg to their dinner , hae need of a canny ( i . e . cautious ) cook . ] Whether the traveller quicken his pace , or march at his ordinary rate , he hath but so far to go . —[ Applied to human life : equivalent fo the Latin , Serius aut ciiius sedem properamus ad unam . ' l

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