Proverbs

[jiang]

Dear teachers,

The following sentences seem to be proverbs. But I can'f find them in my dictionary. Could you please explain them to me?

1. What the caterpillar calls "the edn", the butterfly calls "the beginning".
2. Disappointment is the nurse of wisdom.
This reminds me of another proverb "Failure is the mother of success". Is there any difference between the two?

Looking forward to hearing from you.
Thank you in advance.

Jiang

 

[Anglika]

Dear teachers,

The following sentences seem to be proverbs. But I can'f find them in my dictionary. Could you please explain them to me?

1. What the caterpillar calls "the edn", the butterfly calls "the beginning".
2. Disappointment is the nurse of wisdom.
This reminds me of another proverb "Failure is the mother of success". Is there any difference between the two?

Looking forward to hearing from you.
Thank you in advance.

Jiang

More like aphorisms than proverbs.

The first says that what some people may see as ending something can be seen as a beginning for others. Caterpillars end their existence as pupae; butterflies begin their existence from pupae.

The second indicates that experiencing disappointment teaches a person how to be patient and learn from experience.

The proverb is "Necessity is the mother of invention".

 

[Snowcake]

What the caterpillar calls "the edn", the butterfly calls "the beginning".


To understand this proverb you should take a look at the development of a butterfly.

It begins life as an egg, emerges as a caterpillar and then undergoes a complete change in body form (caterpillar, pupa) until it becomes a fully developed butterfly.

So, the end of the caterpillar is the beginning of a butterfly, a winged adult.

On the hand there is an end, but only for the caterpillar. On the other hand, there is a beginning, for the butterfly.

This proverb alludes to different angles of view. You can turn your attention to the end, but you can also turn it to the beginning.

Hope that helps,
Snowcake

 

[jiang]

Dear Anglika,

Haven't heard from you for a long time.
Thank you very much for your explanation. Now I understand them.

Have a nice weekend.

Jiang

More like aphorisms than proverbs.

The first says that what some people may see as ending something can be seen as a beginning for others. Caterpillars end their existence as pupae; butterflies begin their existence from pupae.

The second indicates that experiencing disappointment teaches a person how to be patient and learn from experience.

The proverb is "Necessity is the mother of invention".

 

[jiang]

Dear Snowcake,

Thank you very much for your explanation. Now I see.

Do you eat a lot of cakes?
Best wishes,

Jiang

What the caterpillar calls "the edn", the butterfly calls "the beginning".


To understand this proverb you should take a look at the development of a butterfly.

It begins life as an egg, emerges as a caterpillar and then undergoes a complete change in body form (caterpillar, pupa) until it becomes a fully developed butterfly.

So, the end of the caterpillar is the beginning of a butterfly, a winged adult.

On the hand there is an end, but only for the caterpillar. On the other hand, there is a beginning, for the butterfly.

This proverb alludes to different angles of view. You can turn your attention to the end, but you can also turn it to the beginning.

Hope that helps,
Snowcake

 

[Snowcake]

Dear Snowcake,

Thank you very much for your explanation. Now I see.

Do you eat a lot of cakes?
Best wishes,

Jiang

:-D

Yes, I do. ;-) However, Snowcake is the name of a lovely film. Do you know it? It's absolutely worth watching it. It's one of my favourite movies.

Best regards,
Snowcake

 

[jiang]

Oh, I don't know. I can see or watch a film the following way:
1. to buy discs of films
2. watch a film on TV, usu. translated from English into Chinese.
3. on the Internet.
After I read your introduction I surfed the Internet only to find reviews or to buy one in a store in foreign a country.
I hope it will soon be introduced to China.

Have a nice weekend.

Jiang

:-D

Yes, I do. ;-) However, Snowcake is the name of a lovely film. Do you know it? It's absolutely worth watching it. It's one of my favourite movies.

Best regards,
Snowcake