Pithy, trite, boring, and pensive. Favorite sayings can, by turn, be all of this, especially if they are endlessly repeated as a sort of tagline on everything a person utters. “It just goes to show…” was one that a friend endlessly noted, even when it made no sense. But they can be powerful reminders of the proper way to live our lives.
One of my favorites is a saying of Confusious by way of martial arts. It doesn’t matter how slow you go as long as you do not stop. It’s a reminder that not all things can be, or should be, done in haste. And that taking time to do it well is better than hurrying through.
This really hit home to me in my work in Iaido, a Japanese sword art. It’s relatively easy to just hustle through the katas ( exercises of techniques) without thinking. But when you slow the kata down. And think of, and deeply experience every move, and consider the value of doing it correctly, the kata becomes very revealing, and more than a bit meditative.
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Enjoyable post. It made me examine my own sayings and think about how often I use them (too much, it seems)
That saying by Confucius is the story of my life. Sometimes, too, we don’t really know where we’re going until the work reveals itself.
Very true!
Well said.