PHILOSOPHY It is so easy to misinterpret written or spoken statements, especially if we are spot listeners, or have our minds already made up about something. Two most often quoted phrases, which are totally incorrect are, “Good fences make good neighbors,” and “Spare the rod and spoil the child.” The poet who wrote “Good fences make good neighbors” was quoting his obnoxious neighbor, and went on to chide the neighbor about being afraid the poet’s flowers might go over and eat the neighbor’s flowers. The poet himself did not think fences were necessary between neighbors. “Spare the rod and spoil the child” came about during pastoral times when raising sheep was the biggest industry. Each shepherd carried a long staff called a “rod,” which had a hook at one end. The rod was used to prod the sheep to go in the right direction, and the hook to seize a sheep by the leg if it started to stray. So “Spare the rod and spoil the child” had to do with giving your child direction, rather than beating hell out of him with a stick! Some of my FB philosophies have been misunderstood by a few readers. Since these are mostly old drunks, perennially unhappy people, or ones who are not as smart as they think they are, I do not sink to their levels by arguing with them. If anyone thinks this is a “crock,” the delete button is right over there!
Posted on: Sat, 07 Sep 2013 15:11:34 +0000
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