# Let's have fun debunking those old sayings/proverbs. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 25, 2004, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-have-fun-debunking-those-old-sayings-proverbs/271030 "2004-10-25T11:09:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-have-fun-debunking-those-old-sayings-proverbs/271030/41 "2004-10-26T10:17:25Z")
> [@t-keela](#): > > How about a twist? > I’ll give you a proverb and you can debunk it. > > _ **"You are what you eat."** _😉 I am not mozzarella cheese. (Somehow I think that retort would sound best if delivered indignantly by Lt. Worf of Star Trek. “Captain, I am not mozzarella cheese!”) ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-have-fun-debunking-those-old-sayings-proverbs/271030/42 "2004-10-26T11:03:15Z")
> [@Barbarian](#): > > **You can’t have your cake and eat it too**. > > In front of me I have my slice of cheesecake. Now I eat it. Presto! Sure-- but that isn’t the correct expression. It should be “You can’t eat your cake and have it too.” Which makes a lot more sense. ---
**Author:** ![Dragwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dragwyr/32/2855_2.png) [@Dragwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragwyr)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-have-fun-debunking-those-old-sayings-proverbs/271030/43 "2004-10-26T12:38:45Z")
**"It’s good to be the king."** -Mel Brooks Not if you are King Charles I. ---
**Author:** ![t-keela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a3d4f5/32.png) [@t-keela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-keela)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-have-fun-debunking-those-old-sayings-proverbs/271030/44 "2004-10-26T14:10:18Z")
> [@t-keela](#): > > How about a twist? > I’ll give you a proverb and you can debunk it. > > _ **"You are what you eat."** _😉 pussies cheese? is that the best you could come up with? :rolleyes: … Okay here’s another one, let’s see if you can do better. _ **"Revenge is a dish best served cold."** _ ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-have-fun-debunking-those-old-sayings-proverbs/271030/45 "2004-10-26T14:11:08Z")
That was the last thing I ate, and pussy was too obvious. ---
**Author:** ![Draelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Draelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Draelin)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-have-fun-debunking-those-old-sayings-proverbs/271030/46 "2004-10-26T14:43:31Z")
> [@t-keela](#): > > _ **"Revenge is a dish best served cold."** _ Obviously, you’ve never had the immense satisfaction of setting fire to the collection of stuff your ex left at your house. Including his favorite shirt. 😃 I’ve never understood, though, how _birds of a feather flock together_, and yet, at the same time, _opposites attract._ Or how _absence makes the heart grow fonder_ and yet most people say _out of sight, out of mind_. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-have-fun-debunking-those-old-sayings-proverbs/271030/47 "2004-10-26T16:26:03Z")
> [@t-keela](#): > > How about a twist? > I’ll give you a proverb and you can debunk it. > > _ **"You are what you eat."** _😉 This one is true. I am fast, cheap, and easy. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-have-fun-debunking-those-old-sayings-proverbs/271030/48 "2004-10-26T16:48:30Z")
**Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.** Not so. Wealth can be generated as easily at night as during the daylight hours. Winess the success of all-night adult bookstores and street corner crack sales. There is also nothing inherently healthy about arising in the pre-dawn hours. A more accurate phrasing of these sentiments might be something like: **Investing sufficient capital and labor in a viable business while still budgeting enough time for a personal fitness regimen that includes adequate rest, nutrition, and exercise will increase a person’s net worth without detrinmental effect on that person’s health regardless of whether the business’ hours parallel traditional business hours** ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-have-fun-debunking-those-old-sayings-proverbs/271030/49 "2004-10-26T16:56:47Z")
> [@t-keela](#): > > _ **"Revenge is a dish best served cold."** _ Revenge is not actually a dish at all, but rather an act. Besides, some of the best versions of revenge involve boiling lead. _ **"The bigger they are, the harder they fall."** _ Daniel ---
**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-have-fun-debunking-those-old-sayings-proverbs/271030/50 "2004-10-26T17:01:06Z")
**Two wrongs don’t make a right.** Well, multiplying two negative numbers _does_ yield a positive number, though. **Good things come to those who wait.** There’s a lot of good shit I could wait all my life for that will never come. **Find a penny, pick it up and then all day you’ll have good luck.** The day my back gives out from doing this my thoughts on this one will surely change. **There’s a sucker born every minute.** The earth’s birth rate has increased since P.T. Barnum made this quote. It needs to be updated. **Seek and ye shall find.** Depends on how much time and patience you have looking for the damned thing! ---
**Author:** ![Dob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Dob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dob)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-have-fun-debunking-those-old-sayings-proverbs/271030/51 "2004-10-26T17:06:40Z")
“When God closes a door, he opens a window” How about you just leave the door open?? Much easier access that way, I mean why make me work to get thru a damn window with a perfectly good working door right there! “Making a mountain out of a molehill” You dont “make” a mountain…mountains are made by shifts in the earths plates smashing into each other! And since when do moles make hills? dont they dig down? “Your penis is as large as the distance from your thumb to forefinger” This is not true I have large hands!! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![SusanStoHelit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@SusanStoHelit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SusanStoHelit)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-have-fun-debunking-those-old-sayings-proverbs/271030/52 "2004-10-26T17:48:16Z")
Hi! Fist post on the SDMBs: **The early bird gets the worm** … But the second mouse gets the cheese. ---
**Author:** ![SusanStoHelit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@SusanStoHelit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SusanStoHelit)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-have-fun-debunking-those-old-sayings-proverbs/271030/53 "2004-10-26T17:52:31Z")
Hi! First post on the SDMBs: **The early bird gets the worm** … But the second mouse gets the cheese. ETA: Damn, first post and I get it wrong. Well it can only go up from here, right? Right? ---
**Author:** ![DogMom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9c0ed/32.png) [@DogMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DogMom)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-have-fun-debunking-those-old-sayings-proverbs/271030/54 "2004-10-26T18:04:14Z")
> [@SusanStoHelit](#): > > Hi! First post on the SDMBs: > ETA: Damn, first post and I get it wrong. Well it can only go up from here, right? Right? First, welcome! Second: **It can only get better from here** is certainly a proverb…and I do believe it was invented by someone with very _very_ limited imagination. Things can _always_ get worse. \ Could be raining. **KABOOM** \ Oh, and I’m with **Catsmeow** : Applebee’s Triple Chocolate Meltdown tastes waaaaaaaaay better than thin feels. Not that I remember how thin feels, but that’s a whole nother topic. ---
**Author:** ![t-keela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a3d4f5/32.png) [@t-keela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-keela)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-have-fun-debunking-those-old-sayings-proverbs/271030/55 "2004-10-26T18:06:02Z")
Hi Susan, welcome… They say, _ **"Patience is a Virtue".** _ and _ **"Always proofread your posts."** _😉 ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-have-fun-debunking-those-old-sayings-proverbs/271030/56 "2004-10-26T18:20:42Z")
> [@t-keela](#): > > Hi Susan, welcome… > > They say, _ **"Patience is a Virtue".** _ They’re wrong. The [seven virtues](http://www.takase.com/MartialArts/Bushido/Bushido.htm) are Rectitude, Valor, Benevolence, Respect, Honor, Honesty, and Loyalty. I would’ve found more examples of the seven virtues, but that would take too long, and it’s not like patience is a virtue. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Palikia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@Palikia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palikia)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-have-fun-debunking-those-old-sayings-proverbs/271030/57 "2004-10-26T18:41:48Z")
The squeaky wheel gets the oil. WRONG! The squeaky wheel gets replaced. ---
**Author:** ![SusanStoHelit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@SusanStoHelit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SusanStoHelit)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-have-fun-debunking-those-old-sayings-proverbs/271030/58 "2004-10-26T18:44:21Z")
Ah, yes, **Read _twice_, post _once_**. I’m sure that’s biblical And **DOB** , where do you think the dirt that moles dig goes? If the holes are to go down, the, dirt must come up. Not a lot, mind you, which is why it is a nice juxtaposition to mountains. ---
**Author:** ![Dob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Dob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dob)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-have-fun-debunking-those-old-sayings-proverbs/271030/59 "2004-10-26T19:26:37Z")
> [@](#): > > And DOB, where do you think the dirt that moles dig goes? If the holes are to go down, the, dirt must come up. Not a lot, mind you, which is why it is a nice juxtaposition to mountains. well I was going to come up with a nice snappy reply here, but im still looking up the meaning of juxtaposition! Ya know, you just dont see that word often enough 😉 welcome to the boards! ---
**Author:** ![t-keela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a3d4f5/32.png) [@t-keela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-keela)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-have-fun-debunking-those-old-sayings-proverbs/271030/60 "2004-10-26T20:03:19Z")
_ **"Practice makes perfect."** _ :rolleyes: _ **"There is honor even among thieves…"** _ and what exactly did you steal Sue? 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-have-fun-debunking-those-old-sayings-proverbs/271030.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-have-fun-debunking-those-old-sayings-proverbs/271030.md?page=4)