Of all the Celtic tribes extraordinary sayings most I've found to be sane and stable and true. Surpassing the eons they remain a lesson to me.
These are are few that have been anglised:
Keep the heid! - Stay calm, don't get upset.
Is the cat deid? - Has the cat died? Means your trousers are a bit short - like a flag flying at half mast.
Haud yer wheesht! - Be quiet.
Noo jist haud on! - Now just hold it, slow down, take your time.
;D
And Gaelic:
Bàthaidh uisge teth teine.
Hot water will quench fire.
Cùm do chù ri leigeadh.
Hold back your dog till the deer falls.
Is fheàrr teicheadh math na droch fhuireach.
Better a good retreat than a bad stand.
Give us your best.
;)
"Never bolt your door with a boiled carrot"
No idea what this means, but one day I'm gonna whip it out at just the right moment... :)
I like this one. A good reminder to give fully
"If you loan your breeches don't cut off the buttons."
...and my personal motto. :)
"Dress a goat in silk and it's still a goat."
I do like silk though. :)
Boiled carrot- carrots are soft- could be a 'Johns Inn' allusion, or a reminder to always use your strongest, most reasoned argument- other wise the 'boiled carrot' will soon be broken through.
Is minic a bhris béal duine a shrón.
It's often a person's mouth broke their nose.
LOL yeah..isn't *that* the truth! A black eye or two as well. ;D
..but, I think sometimes a person's mouth can kick in the door and create a better world for those who will follow.
Luck never gives; it only lends.
Very cool, this is the first I've seen of this thread. I don't have any proverbs, but I'll ceratinly read yours and take them to heart. Thank you for sharing.
The believer is happy, the doubter is wise.
In two shakes of a lambs tail. (To be very quick. ) Not sure if English or Irish.
My Great~Uncle told me this one last night.........{a Celtic saying}
"Never give a sword to a man, who cannot dance"
What it means...I have no clue...... ???.......lol!
{And he didn't know either.}
What can you expect from a pig- but a grunt.
Meaning don't expect anything wise or kind from a lout.
Quote from: irish on January 12, 2010, 04:06:30 PM
My Great~Uncle told me this one last night.........{a Celtic saying}
"Never give a sword to a man, who cannot dance"
What it means...I have no clue...... ???.......lol!
{And he didn't know either.}
i've heard this one before i guess it means if he can't dance he doesnt have the finess to fight
Quote from: Lady Christina de Pond on April 01, 2010, 11:22:37 AM
Quote from: irish on January 12, 2010, 04:06:30 PM
My Great~Uncle told me this one last night.........{a Celtic saying}
"Never give a sword to a man, who cannot dance"
What it means...I have no clue...... ???.......lol!
{And he didn't know either.}
i've heard this one before i guess it means if he can't dance he doesnt have the finess to fight
Or maybe he's not very graceful or coordinated, so don't give him a sharp object?
Beauty will not make the pot boil.
Ní hí an bhreáthacht a chuireann an crocán ag fiuchadh.
(from http://www.caro.dna.ie/proverbs/)
I'm using this one when all the guys do is stare at the girls while "talking" to me...
Ge b'e thig gun chuireadh, suidhidh e gun iarraidh.
Who comes uninvited will sit down unbidden.
Then my favorite;
An Irishman is never drunk as long as he can hold onto one blade of grass and not fall off the earth.
Quote from: irish on January 12, 2010, 04:06:30 PM
My Great~Uncle told me this one last night.........{a Celtic saying}
"Never give a sword to a man, who cannot dance"
What it means...I have no clue...... ???.......lol!
{And he didn't know either.}
Its a roundabout way of saying someone is clumsy. (
runs with scissors, LOL)
Actually....there was intended a more kind idea...if he dances with a sword then he's not fit to dance with people....meaning if he is a man of war then he'll never know the joy of life.
There is the obvious...also it was a sort of etiquette thing...in that if you were to dance with the lady then you should remove the ugly.
If he chooses to make war and can't understand the frivolities and joy of life ...then don't make him your warrior.
I beg to differ...
My Grandfather explained that saying to me many years ago. If you cannot dance then you cannot properly use a sword in combat, which was sometimes called The Dance of Blades.
Men of war are then only ones that truely know the sweetness of life... ask any man that has been in combat.
Every dog is brave on his own doorstep.
A friends eye is a good mirror.
Is maith an scáthán súil carad.
Wine reveals the truth!
Sgéitheann fion firinne!
I really like these...
"Though the pen is mightier than the sword, the sword speaks louder and stronger at any given moment."
~Leonard Wibberley, Irish Author (The Mouse That Roared)
wyckdblyss , and Hibernian. Your two quotes have the most meaning, because they are so true. Thanks for sharing.