# What's the stupidest adage you've ever heard? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 14, 2004, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-adage-youve-ever-heard/224444 "2004-01-14T20:41:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2004, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-adage-youve-ever-heard/224444/43 "2004-01-15T12:08:28Z")
> [@AndrewT](#): > > I like the matching pairs that contradict each other: > > _Look before you leap_ vs _He who hesitates is lost._ Yeah, like _Absence makes the heart grow fonder_ vs. _Out of sight, out of mind_. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2004, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-adage-youve-ever-heard/224444/44 "2004-01-15T12:22:59Z")
> [@](#): > > Many a mickle makes a muckle. WTF? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2004, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-adage-youve-ever-heard/224444/45 "2004-01-15T13:42:24Z")
“Don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched.” You CAN"T count chickens before they’re hatched. You can only count EGGS. ---
**Author:** ![js\_africanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@js\_africanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/js_africanus)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2004, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-adage-youve-ever-heard/224444/46 "2004-01-15T13:45:25Z")
> [@Ex Machina](#): > > \*\*Also the expression “the proof is in the pudding” makes no sense whatsoever. The notion should be abbreviated “the proof of the pudding…” The proof of the pudding is in the tasting, IIRC. > [@Some names are twentyfive](#): > > The exception proves the rule. No cite for this: I heard that this is another case of “prove” as in “to test,” so that the exception tests the rule, and the rule fails. Nowadays, it is always used to mean that if there is an exception, then the rule must me true. ---
**Author:** ![TripleAnt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e19adc/32.png) [@TripleAnt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TripleAnt)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2004, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-adage-youve-ever-heard/224444/47 "2004-01-15T16:50:55Z")
I have always hated the one “People who don’t trust others can’t be trusted themselves” or something along those lines. I just don’t like it. Just because people are slimly and untrustworthy does not mean that I am not trustworthy in what I do. Pisses me right off. ---
**Author:** ![NE\_Texan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e99b99/32.png) [@NE\_Texan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NE_Texan)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2004, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-adage-youve-ever-heard/224444/48 "2004-01-15T19:42:38Z")
The (rather newer) Yoda adage “There is no try, just do” really annoys me – especially since there are plenty of people who think it has become a business maxim. First of all, not everything is possible – some things can’t be done. Other can’t. Second, our knowledge isn’t perfect – sometimes we just don’t know if something can be done. Put those together, and plenty of times you have to “try” something to see if it can be done. People use “There is no try, just do” as if you would do something different, and it annoys the heck out of me. On the flip side, an adage I do like is “Nobody’s perfect”, and I wish more people would remember that. (Especially as applies to spelling in this post.) ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2004, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-adage-youve-ever-heard/224444/49 "2004-01-15T20:06:15Z")
“Those who can, do. Those who can’t, teach.” This seems to have no other use than to insult teachers and professors. ---
**Author:** ![CairaJade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f04885/32.png) [@CairaJade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairaJade)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2004, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-adage-youve-ever-heard/224444/50 "2004-01-15T20:14:34Z")
_Right as rain_ :dubious: How is rain right? WTF does this MEAN!?? ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Ventrella](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f0a364/32.png) [@Mike\_Ventrella](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_Ventrella)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2004, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-adage-youve-ever-heard/224444/51 "2004-01-15T21:52:26Z")
> [@Urban Ranger](#): > > “These are the best of times, these are the worst of times.” > > What is that? Um, that’s Dickens in “Tale of Two Cities.” It goes on from there: It was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair" etc etc etc In short, he’s saying that there were two different “cities” based on whether you were rich or poor. Sort of like that “glass is half full/half empty” comment from earlier. It’s all yer point of view, y’know. ---
**Author:** ![Jayrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Jayrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayrot)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2004, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-adage-youve-ever-heard/224444/52 "2004-01-15T22:25:34Z")
**"It was the best of times, it was the blurst of times."** ---
**Author:** ![non-native](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bc8723/32.png) [@non-native](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/non-native)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2004, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-adage-youve-ever-heard/224444/53 "2004-01-15T22:54:02Z")
Not an adage per se but one comeback that is seems to used somewhat often is “takes one to know one.” Huh? Why? For example, I don’t need to be a towel to be able to identify a towel. In fact I probably do a helluva lot better job of identifying towels than most towels. I’d go far as to say I do a better job than _every_ towel. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2004, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-adage-youve-ever-heard/224444/54 "2004-01-15T23:44:47Z")
Another misquoted adage: “Money is the root of all evil.” [sic] The biblical adage is actually: “ **The love of** money is the root of all evil.” [emphasis added] (Bible: New Testament: 1 Timothy, 6:10) [Cite](http://www.bartleby.com/66/82/1382.html). [sub]Obviously, the adage is dependent on what translation is used, but all translations clearly state “love of money” vs. “money”.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2004, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-adage-youve-ever-heard/224444/55 "2004-01-15T23:45:39Z")
Let a smile be your umbrella. ---
**Author:** ![Macie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@Macie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Macie)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2004, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-adage-youve-ever-heard/224444/56 "2004-01-16T00:18:17Z")
“You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar”. Why would I want to catch flies? This is not an appetizing image. ---
**Author:** ![Tommyturtle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@Tommyturtle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tommyturtle)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2004, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-adage-youve-ever-heard/224444/57 "2004-01-16T00:23:40Z")
I don’t know if this counts since I’ve only heard my father use this and no one else Maybe he made the stupid thing up for all I know…I just know he sure liked to use it all the time \*Why did the monkey say when the train ran over his tail? It won’t be long now\* ??? No it’s not supposed to be a joke…he’d tell me this and purse his lips and nod like he was imparting great wisdom to me But I have no idea what the hell it’s supposed to mean BTW I don’t think the monkey part is important because once in a while he’d say CAT instead ---
**Author:** ![Ilsa\_Lund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a6a055/32.png) [@Ilsa\_Lund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ilsa_Lund)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2004, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-adage-youve-ever-heard/224444/58 "2004-01-16T00:40:09Z")
> [@](#): > > Not an adage per se but one comeback that is seems to used somewhat often is “takes one to know one.” Huh? Why? For example, I don’t need to be a towel to be able to identify a towel. In fact I probably do a helluva lot better job of identifying towels than most towels. I’d go far as to say I do a better job than every towel. Don’t forget to bring a towel! When bringing up old adages, the sweat can get in your face! That’s why Towelie says “Don’t foget to bring a towel!” You wanna get high? ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2004, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-adage-youve-ever-heard/224444/59 "2004-01-16T05:34:19Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > “Don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched.” You CAN"T count chickens before they’re hatched. You can only count EGGS. But isn’t that just it? some people count their chickens when all they have are eggs; expecting 8 eggs = 8 chickens when it is possible not all the eggs will hatch. * * * man with no tissues takes matter into his own hands. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2004, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-adage-youve-ever-heard/224444/60 "2004-01-16T07:31:45Z")
I have to second the _Life isn’t fair_ one. Also, related is: _You know, you’re only here voluntarily_ or _If you don’t like it here, you can always work somewhere else_ in response to making a complaint about your job. Talk about oversimplification, like it’s so easy to just switch jobs. Yeah, maybe some people can, but most of us are stuck because we can’t afford to leave. Of course I know that people who say that don’t really mean it, it’s just their way of telling you that they don’t want to hear it and to go tell someone who actually gives a crap. And finally, _Do as I say, not as I do_ as an excuse used by leads/supervisors/managers to break the rules, while holding you fully accountable for your actions. ---
**Author:** ![Extraneous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/0ea827/32.png) [@Extraneous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Extraneous)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2004, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-adage-youve-ever-heard/224444/61 "2004-01-16T07:44:49Z")
“Old enough to bleed, old enough to breed” yes, I **was** raised in the hills… ---
**Author:** ![Headspace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8491ac/32.png) [@Headspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Headspace)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2004, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-adage-youve-ever-heard/224444/62 "2004-01-16T13:44:32Z")
> [@](#): > > Quote: > Originally Posted by rowrrbazzle > “You see the glass as half empty. I see it as half full.” > > They’re exactly the same, moron! > Of course they (the glasses) are the same. That is the point. The adage is referring to the different attitudes of the observers. > > One sees it as half-empty. (Rats! Only half left. Pessimist?) > > The other sees it has half-full. (Great! I’ve still got half left. Optimist?) Uh uh every one gets this the wrong way around Half empty - is an optimist - epxected the glass to be full (optimism) and is disappointed because it is only half full Half full - is a pessimist because they expected the glass to be empty (pessimism) and is happily surprised it is half full [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-adage-youve-ever-heard/224444.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-adage-youve-ever-heard/224444.md?page=4)