What are some ancient Russian proverbs?
Аво́сь да как-нибу́дь до добра́ не доведу́т. Transliteration: Avos' da kak-nibud' do dobra ne dovedut. Translation: Maybe and somehow won't make any good. Moral: Don't rely on chance. Алты́нного во́ра ве́шают, а полти́нного че́ствуют. Transliteration: Altynnogo vora veshayut, a poltinnovo chestvuyut. Translation: One hangs the thief who stole altyn(3 kopecks), and honors the one who stole poltinnik(50 kopecks). Ба́бушка (гада́ла, да)на́двое сказа́ла( — то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет). Transliteraion: Babushka (gadala, da) nadvoye skazala( — to li dozhdik, to li sneg, to li budet, to li net). Translation: Granny (told fortunes and) said two things (— it will either rain or snow; it either will or will not). Moral: The outcome is still unknown (despite all that's been said.) — Also: You seem uncertain. Compare: Ви́лами на воде́ пи́сано. Ба́ре деру́тся - у холо́пов чубы́ треща́т. Transliteration: Bare derutsya — u kholopov chuby treschat. Translation: [When] masters are fighting, [their] servants' forelocks are creaking. MoralВали́ на се́рого, се́рый всё свезёт. Transliteration: Vali na serogo, seryy vsyo svezyot. Translation: Put [everything] onto the grey [*****], he'll bear anything. В гостя́х хорошо́, а до́ма лу́чше. Transliteration: V gostyakh khorosho, a doma luchshe. Translation: Visiting is good, but home is better. English version: East or West - home is best. : When powerful people (kings, presidents, etc.) are quarrelling, it's the commoners that suffer
What is that RUSSIAN proverb about praying but also knowing to row to shore?
Pray to God, but keep rowing to shore Помолите к Бог, но сдержите грести для того чтобы подпирать
What do you think about the Russian proverb that goes: "The road will be passed by the able"?
Thanks for A2A, User-10342612317217632094.>>What do you think about the Russian proverb that goes: "The road will be passed by the able"?Not “able” but “walking”. It is quite transparent - if you don’t walk you won’t get to your destination.The proverb should probably get a second part - something paradoxical about a guy who is sitting on the spot and yet gets his stuff done. Like the one about gouging your eye out if you’ve mentioned bad things done to you in the past, and both eyes if you forget those bad things.
What do you think of this Russian proverb: "The tallest blade of grass is the first to be cut by the scythe."?
That's a proverb that envokes terror the first time I hear it. For what I interpret it to be is that those who have reached for greatness above everyone else, will be cut down so that their talent doesn't make others feel insignificant. In other words, the system wants to keep people in line so that no one is better than the rest. What a cruel system! However, I now look at it from a less sinister perspective. If you are the tallest blade of grass, it means you are in the lead and have reached an untouchable height that others haven't reached before. Since you are in new frontiers, your triumphs or failures are to be set first for others to follow. Hence, the scythe refers to the unknown that lies beyond what others have faced. It cuts the first brave individual down because that individual is the forerunner of change and progress. An example is Martin Luther King. He was the catalyst for social change in black/white relations in America. He was "cut down" because he led the way for others to follow. Another example is Galileo. He was ridiculed by many of his peers and the church because his ideas ran counter to knowledge of his day. These forerunners faced the first cut of the scythe which always faces those who lead the way.
What do Russians think of the proverb "If he beats you, he loves you"?
>>What do Russians think of the proverb "If he beats you, he loves you"?Most likely it is not whole proverb, but it is only half of it. Traditional Russian proverbs usually consisted of two verses: first one - absurd, second one - correcting to the first one. For example: Verse one: “- Who would mention old times should loose his eye.” Verse two: “ - And who would forget them, should loose both”.Soviet ministry of culture did a lot to cut proverbs in half and spread that “1/2 version” among the population for some unknown reason. They did such a good job that I don’t even know where to look for the second verse of “If he beats you, he loves you”.I would also add that domestic violence was a painful question in Russian traditions, yet positive heroes of folk songs and tales usually refused to beat their wives despite “peer pressure”.For example in a song above elderly mother of the song hero tells him, that he is bad husband since he does not beat and scold his wife. To keep the peace in the family hero assures his mother that he would go to the fair to buy a new whip for proper BDSM session. Yet once he is back home he starts whipping pillows on the bed and walls of the house so his beloved wife would not get hurt.
What does the Russian proverb known as "It is better to be slapped by the truth than to be kissed by a lie" mean?
Thanks for A2A, Korey Daniel.>>What does the Russian proverb known as "It is better to be slapped by the truth than to be kissed by a lie" mean?Direct translation of this proverb in “The bitter truth is better than sweet lies”. Which is quite self-explaining - if you are a boss then you should make you underlings tell you truth no matter what.
How does the Russian proverb "Trust, but verify" make any sense?
What that proverb can imply.1) Trust has it's limits. If your company works with another one, and they say they can't pay in time, but will pay in 2-3 month time. You can trust them and wait, but you should "vetify" your trust by having legal documents that can be used in court, in case you trusted wrong company.2) How can you place trust in people? You can trust someone blindly, but it's usually a bad strategy. Or you can place some initial trust, listen to what someone says, verify it and If that person was right, you'll trust him a bit more, and in case he was wrong - stop trusting him or leave him on initial level.3) you can trust a person, but it doesn't mean that he is always right. He can trusted someone who lied to them, they can misunderstood something etc. And so they can spread false information with out realising it.By verifying such information you make sure to have truthful information yourself, and correct your friend helping him as well.
What does the proverb "trust, but verify" mean?
Trust is to place high belief and conviction in what information or object that another person presents to you. Trust is gained not bought.However, even trusting a well intended person can lead to disappointment or disillusionment following the actual precarious outcomes after the occurring fact… it is always important to Fact check, even if you’re taking somebody’s word for it.Everything in this world is subject to human error or changes, so it is advised to err on the side of caution & make your final thought or decision based on multiple reliable sources, or at least understand how the fact came into being from the trusted source.