Twitter Patter 50 Tweet-ready Proverbs from Around the World Bill Dyer Twitter Patter - 50 Tweet-ready Proverbs from Around the World This collection is Copyright © 2012, Bill Dyer. All rights reserved. Twitter and the Twitter logo are trademarks of Twitter, Inc. Bill Dyer is not affiliated with Twitter, Inc. Discover other titles by Bill Dyer at Smashwords.com: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/bdyer61 Smashwords Edition Thank you for downloading this free ebook. You are welcome to share it with your friends. This book may be reproduced, copied and distributed for non-commercial purposes, provided the book remains in its complete original form. If you enjoyed this book, please return to Smashwords.com to discover other works by this author. Thank you for your support. Dedication Imogene Table of Contents Introduction The Proverbs About the Author Introduction It has been said that: "Proverbs are the cream of a nation's thought." Proverbs reveal many aspects about the cultural traditions of a society and it's through the cultural context that gives meaning to them. A proverb (Latin: proverbium) is a simple, concrete saying that expresses a truth, based on common sense or the practical experience of a society or humanity-at-large. They are often metaphorical. Proverbs come in many slants. For example, a proverb that describes a basic rule of conduct may also be known as a maxim. Others warn of caution while others reinforce a bit of common sense. William Penn wrote, "The wisdom of nations lies in their proverbs, which are brief and pithy. Collect and learn them; they are notable measures of directions for human life; you have much in little; they save time in speaking; and upon occasion may be the fullest and safest answers." I think that Penn is right. Here then, are 50 proverbs from around the world. They all happen to fit within Twitter's 140-character limit - and without the need for a click-through. Enjoy. The Proverbs Behind an able man there are always other able men. - Chinese proverb The absent are always at fault. - Spanish proverb Praise the ripe field not the green corn. - Irish proverb Teeth placed before the tongue give good advice. - Italian proverb Years and sins are always more than owned. - Italian proverb Nodding the head does not row the boat. - Irish proverb It is not good to be alone, even in Paradise. - Yiddish proverb There is no eel so small but it hopes to become a whale. - German proverb In America an hour is forty minutes. - German proverb If you are patient in one moment of anger, you will escape a hundred days of sorrow. - Chinese proverb It is a good answer which knows when to stop. - Italian proverb With nice appearance people want to be deceived. - German proverb Who is narrow of vision cannot be big of heart. - Chinese proverb The water that bears the ship is the same that engulfs it. - Chinese proverb He who can follow his own will is a king. - Irish proverb Everyone is wise until he speaks. - Irish proverb The world is a sure teacher, but it requires a fat fee. - Finnish proverb Being young is a fault which improves daily. - Swedish proverb The first day you meet, you are friends. The next day you meet, you are brothers. — Afghan proverb Those whose palm-kernels were cracked for them by a benevolent spirit should not forget to be humble. – Chinese proverb A coral reef strengthens into land. – Hawaiian proverb If you would be Pope, you must think of nothing else. - Spanish proverb Experience is the comb that nature gives us when we are bald. – Belgian proverb A stranger nearby is better than a far-away relative. – Korean proverb Don't think there are no crocodiles because the water is calm. – Malayan proverb Everyone is kneaded out of the same dough, but not baked in the same oven. – Yiddish proverb Because the caterpillar exists, there exists also a bird to eat it. Vietnamese proverb In a battle between elephants, the ants get squashed. – Thai proverb In a court of fowls, the cockroach never wins his case. – Rwandan proverb Little by little, the camel goes into the couscous. Moroccan proverb When a dove begins to associate with crows its feathers remain white but its heart grows black. – German proverb The worse the passage the more welcome the port. – English proverb To ask is no sin and to be refused is no calamity. - Russian proverb Many things are lost for want of asking. - English proverb A man without a wife is like a man in winter without a fur hat. - Russian proverb The beautiful is less what one sees than what one dreams. - Belgian proverb He who is outside the door has already a good part of his journey behind him. - Dutch proverb For a web begun God sends thread. - Italian proverb If you are bitter at heart, sugar in the mouth will not help you. - Yiddish proverb Boasting is not courage. - African proverb A book is like a garden carried in the pocket. - Chinese proverb Many complain of their looks, but none of their brains. - Yiddish proverb He who speaks the truth must have one foot in the stirrup. - Armenian proverb A bad cause requires many words. - German proverb To change and to improve are two different things. - German proverb If you hear that a mountain has moved, believe; but if you hear that a man has changed his character, believe it not. - Islamic proverb If you do not drive in sleet to the woods, singing, you have to drive crying. - Czech proverb The discontented child cries for toasted snow. - Arabian proverb He who hunts two hares leaves one and loses the other. - Japanese proverb The town is new every day. - Estonian proverb ### About the Author Bill Dyer is a web programmer by day, a student by night and a quote collector on the sly. With coffee running through his veins, no time of day or night is safe for the unwary writer or speaker. They may find their words collected. Discover other titles by Bill Dyer at Smashwords.com: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/bdyer61