JAPANESE PROVERBS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 209, 5 April 1913, Page 10

JAPANESE PROVERBS

Our " despise not the day of small things" is more picturesquely phrased by the Japanese, who convey the same meaning in "The meaning in the "Famous swords are made of iron scrapings." Our commonplace, "Out of evil good may come." finds with them an expressive simile in "The lotus springs from the mud." and in point of poigin spite of the vacuum, and was lost, is vastly inferior to their "Rubbing salt on a sore."

There is a strong pessimistic strain in such proverbs as "Better nourish a (log than an unfaithful servant," "Catch a thief and find he is your own son."

A very low appreciation of'the pleasures likely to fall to any man's share in this world is indicated in "If you hate a man. let him live."

The Japanese have some really fine sayings worthy of universal acceptance, such as "Thine own heart makes the world," or "The poet at home seems the entire universe," or "The throne of the gods is on the brows of the righteous man." Their nice observance of manners is evidenced by payings suclr as "F.xcess of politeness, becomes impoliteness."