While I am not conventionally religious, I am very much the product of a religious Jewish upbringing, and it is material such as the following that shaped my life perspective. Many of the items below are well known and not necessarily unique to Judaism , but others are characteristically so. The humanity and humour in these traditional insights are readily apparent not only in my whimsical drawings but also in my music, stories and poetry as well. Prepare to be enlightened and entertained:
Nerve succeeds.
One always thinks that others are happy.
No answer is also an answer.
Quiet streams tear away the shores.
The face tells the secret.
You can't ride in all directions at one time.
Everything revolves around bread and death.
When the heart is full, the eyes overflow.
A fool falls on his back and bruises his nose.
Better the devil you know than the devil you don't.
If you are going to do something wrong, enjoy it!
When you look to the heights, hold on to your hat.
A wise man knows what he says, a fool says what he knows.
One hand washes the other and both wash the face.
God takes with one hand and gives with the other.
Don't rub your belly when the fish is still in the pond.
A frequent guest becomes a pest.
A penny at hand is worth a dollar at a distance.
A meowing cat, can't catch mice.
If you can't do as you wish, do as you can.
One link snaps, and the whole chain falls apart.
You can't put "thank you" in your pocket.
A word is like an arrow; both are in a hurry to strike.
A heavy heart talks a lot.
Trying to outsmart everybody is the greatest folly.
Man thinks, and God laughs.
A liar must have a good memory.
If you have money, you are wise and good looking and can sing well too.
One old friend is better than two new ones.
The food is cooked in a pot and the plate gets the honour.
When a fool goes shopping, the storekeepers rejoice.
Money buys everything but brains.
Words must be weighed and not counted.
in a quarrel, each side is right.
It is easier to be a critic than an author.
The pen stings worse than the arrow.
Love is sweet but it's nice to have bread with it.
It's best to learn to barber on someone else's beard.
The masses are asses.
Fools and weeds grow without rain.
All of life is a struggle.
If you can't go over, go under.
Hope for miracles, but don't rely on one.
It's easier to guard a sack of flour than a girl or boy in love.
Easy loves, heavy damages.
Dress up a broom and it too will look nice.
Better caution at first, than tears afterwards.
The smoothest way is sometimes full of stones.
Act advice from everyone, but act with your own mind.
Little children have big ears.
The husband is the boss - if his wife allows.
A wicked tongue is worse than an evil hand.
One cross word brings on a quarrel.
Laughter is heard farther than weeping.
When the father goes to his son, both laugh; but when the son goes to his father, both cry.
Easy to promise, hard to fulfill.
A wise man hears one word and understands two.
Every ass likes to hear himself bray.
He who is aware of his folly is wise.
The gift is not as precious as the thought.
The heaviest burden is an empty pocket.
If one could do charity without money, and favours without aggravation, the world would be full of saints.
The ocean can not be emptied with a spoon.
As the wallet grows, so do the needs.
Better to break off an engagement than a marriage.
Loans will get you moans.
The door to evil-doing is wide, but the return gate is narrow.
Envy breeds hate.
One is greeted according to one's garb, bidden farewell according to one's wisdom.
That place seems good where we are not.
You can't get ahead with keeping quiet.
He who has not tasted the bitter, does not understand the sweet.
Better to die upright than to live on your knees.
The world stands on three things: on money, on money and on money.
Don't put off to tomorrow what you can do today.
He who hesitates is lost.
You can't sit on two horses with one behind.
Poverty hides wisdom.
Too much modesty is half conceit.
He who praises himself will be humiliated.
When a thief kisses you, count your teeth.
When one must, one can.
If everybody says so, there's some truth to it.
The most bitter misfortune can be covered up with a smile.
The smallest vengence poisions the soul.
If I would be like someone else, who would be like me?
What will become of the sheep if the wolf is the judge?
Still waters run deep.
When your enemy falls, don't rejoice; but don't pick him up either.
If you can't endure the bad, you'll not live to witness the good.
The reddest apple has a worm in it.
If you lie down with the dogs, you get up with the fleas.
When the stomach is empty, so is the brain.
Pray that you may never have to endure, all that you can learn to bear.
If you dig a pit for someone else, you fall in yourself.
The heart is small and embraces the world.