# What do you think about this saying? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 13, 2024, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-this-saying/1010191 "2024-11-13T09:41:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2024, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-this-saying/1010191/1 "2024-11-13T09:41:10Z")
My mom has a bunch of little signs with positive sayings about. She’s one of the parents that those Progressive people are becoming. One of them says the following: “True friends leave footprints on your heart.” I see what it is trying to say, but my first reaction is to think, “True friends don’t walk all over your heart.” It seems dumb to me. What do you think? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2024, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-this-saying/1010191/2 "2024-11-13T10:38:21Z")
Yeah, it’s weird. It sounds like it’s missing the contrasting first half, like it should start with ‘bad friends leave footprints on your clean carpets’ or something ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2024, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-this-saying/1010191/3 "2024-11-13T11:25:46Z")
The very best friends don’t leave tooth marks on your privates. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2024, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-this-saying/1010191/4 "2024-11-13T11:52:42Z")
@Cervaise:Unless you enjoy that sort of thing. 😉 Back to the OP: A lot of schmaltzy sayings are written by folks who are barely literate, or who are pretending to be. That’s also their target market, so it works. You can see the miscued allusion to the schmaltzy saying about footprints in the sand and Jeebus carrying you through the hard parts. There are similar sayings about your pets leaving pawprints on your soul. My bottom line: Yes it’s dumb. Such sayings and signs are all mostly dumb. ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2024, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-this-saying/1010191/5 "2024-11-13T11:57:37Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > @Cervaise:Unless you enjoy that sort of thing. 😉 > > Back to the OP: > > A lot of schmaltzy sayings are written by folks who are barely literate, or who are pretending to be. That’s also their target market, so it works. > > You can see the miscued allusion to the schmaltzy saying about footprints in the sand and Jeebus carrying you through the hard parts. There are similar sayings about your pets leaving pawprints on your soul. > > My bottom line: Yes it’s dumb. Such sayings and signs are all mostly dumb It’s a clumsy metaphor for someone having an emotional impact/connection. Yes - it’s dumb. Maybe help her find a replacement saying? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2024, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-this-saying/1010191/6 "2024-11-13T12:26:36Z")
> [@Ellecram](#): > > Maybe help her find a replacement saying? - “It’s darkest just before it goes pitch black.” ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2024, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-this-saying/1010191/7 "2024-11-13T12:37:36Z")
How about > It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to post a bunch of silly signs and remove all doubt? 😁 🤪   ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2024, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-this-saying/1010191/8 "2024-11-13T13:16:09Z")
Optimism is the first step to disappointment. ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2024, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-this-saying/1010191/9 "2024-11-13T13:33:52Z")
Never stop giving up! ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2024, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-this-saying/1010191/10 "2024-11-13T13:35:32Z")
“But, I only see your footprints on my heart during the good times, not the bad times. You abandoned me during my worst times!” “No, those are the times when I _carried_ your heart.” If this thread is going to turn into a general thread about weird or creepy sayings, how about the one where somebody gets a shiver out of nowhere and says “a goose just walked over my grave”. So, at some point in the future after the person is dead and buried, a goose walking over their grave sends vibrations backward through time that gives them a shiver? Creeeepy. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2024, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-this-saying/1010191/11 "2024-11-13T13:37:01Z")
Sounds like a variant of: “You can count on your friends to tell you the brutal truth.” ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2024, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-this-saying/1010191/12 "2024-11-13T14:15:07Z")
“I asked why there was only one set of footprints in the sand. Jesus told me the sand people travel single file to hide their numbers.” ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2024, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-this-saying/1010191/13 "2024-11-13T14:27:35Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > It sounds like it’s missing the contrasting first half “Bad friends take pictures of your heart….” ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2024, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-this-saying/1010191/14 "2024-11-13T14:54:30Z")
Right now, in the future, but right now, then. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2024, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-this-saying/1010191/15 "2024-11-13T14:54:32Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Optimism is the first step to disappointment. Trying is the first step on the road to failure. Trust is the first step on the road to betrayal. A friend will help you move. A true friend helps you move a body. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2024, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-this-saying/1010191/16 "2024-11-13T14:55:34Z")
You tried your best, and you failed miserably. The lesson is, never try. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2024, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-this-saying/1010191/17 "2024-11-13T16:06:52Z")
Every dead body on Mt. Everest was once a highly motivated person. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2024, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-this-saying/1010191/18 "2024-11-13T16:09:06Z")
You’ve got to start early if you want to be drunk all day. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2024, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-this-saying/1010191/19 "2024-11-13T16:11:55Z")
I understand the sentiment- it’s supposed to be the idea that your friends leave an indelible mark on your soul- they’re more than transitory. But the footprints thing does imply walking over someone’s heart, which is a weird idea. I kind of think that it, like most of these sort of “wise” one-liners aren’t supposed to be thought about very deeply- they’re just supposed to be read, understood at a very surface level, and bring a little smile to your face/warm your soul a little bit. They’re not collected sayings from famous philosophers or anything like that. That’s also why those sarcastic ones are so funny; they’re kind of showing what’s behind the curtain. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2024, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-this-saying/1010191/20 "2024-11-13T16:12:12Z")
The grass is always greener on the other side 'cause you haven’t been over there to fuck it up yet. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-this-saying/1010191.md?page=2)