Match the Proverb Trivia Quiz

Answer: It becomes noisy

No prizes for guessing which gender wrote that. To a degree, it's true of course. Any group of women together is usually a happy, buzzing, conversational feast of chattering tongues, but there's nothing wrong with that at all. Women are great communicators and are also excellent at reading body language, the gentlemen lesser so at both skills. Their skills rest in other areas.

This saying originates in Japan as "Onna Sannin Yoreba Kashimashii", and appears to be relatively recent. It is found in the 2004 work "Kashimashi: Girl meets Girl" by Satoru Akahori, which comprises five volumes in all. It was later turned into a visual novel and anime series, hence the saying's ongoing popularity.

Answer: For your heirs

The basic meaning of this saying is to remind us to plan long term for the security and future of our children. Both trees of course take a long time to grow and bear fruit, children likewise. Trees are likened in this case to long term and wise investments of financial resources which will one day be handed down to our offspring to give them a good start to life. Providing children with a good education and proper moral and ethical training will achieve the same result. That too takes time.

This saying dates back to 17th century England. A modified version of the same proverb can be found in Thomas Fuller's 1732 "Gnomologia" (a book on proverbs and adages) where it has evolved into "He that plants treess loves others beside himself".

Answer: Than to arrive

This expression simply means that there is just as much pleasure, or more, in the anticipation of an end result than in the actual result itself. Anything anticipated and worked towards, or journeyed to, or taken a long time to happen, when finally achieved, can even be a little deflating at times, for then there is nothing further to strive for. The true pleasure lies in the journey, rather than the destination.

The Scottish author, Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) gave us this saying in his 1881 work "Virginibus Puerisque".

Answer: I might be

This proverb comes from the pen of Lao-Tzu (604-531 BC), a philosopher from ancient China. He was the founder of Taoism.

It tells us that we are all our own worst enemy to a degree. Humans are prone to giving themselves negatively enforced messages such as "I can't" rather than "I can", or "I'm not" rather than "I am", over and over again as they grow and mature. Ultimately we become what we believe of ourselves, one way or another, but to go through life holding on to negativity and the shadows of the past, is to turn our backs on the gift of life and our true potential.

Answer: Reap the whirlwind

This expression actually dates back to the Bible where it can be found in Hosea 8:7.

On first reading, it seems rather enigmatic, and takes a bit of thought to retrieve its essential message. It likens the labour of sowing and harvesting life-giving grains and fruits to the kind of lifestyle we choose to follow. If we follow a foolish, sinful or self-indulgent life - that is, sow the wind instead of anything substantial - then the end result will be the whirlwind of judgement, or nothing but a barren existence, devoid of all meaning. This saying can be applied to any age or any lifestyle. Plant walnuts and pears instead.

Answer: As folk

This saying simply mean that people are constantly surprising, and that, of all the strange things that take place in the world, the actions of human being can often be the most amazing, perplexing, horrifying or inspirational of all.

This saying derives from either an old Welsh expression that has been around many moons, or from an old Yorkshire expression in northern England with an equal longevity. The origin of either one cannot be located unfortunately.

Answer: A tattered bag

This saying derives from the old - and cruel - "sport" of cock-fighting which dates back more than 6,000 to Persia, which is now Iran. The saying evolved from that blood sport some time later, but as with many of these older expressions, its origins have been lost in time.

It means that no matter how old or decrepit someone may look, that person may yet be filled with wonderful and surprising skills, knowledge and abilities, and have so much more to give to the world - if only people would take the time to discover them. It's similar to the equally obscure old saying "There's many a good tune played on an old fiddle" which emerged some time after the 10th century when the fiddle came in being. The notion of a retirement age, and basically writing people off once they have reached a certain number of years, is really quite bizarre. Indeed, looking at the history of mankind through the ages, this is a relatively new concept, introduced only some one hundred years ago.

Answer: With cream

This saying means that there's more than one way of reaching any goal, and sometimes easier ways at that.

It appears to have evolved from the more gruesome "There's more than one way to skin a cat" which appeared in an 1840 short story by American author, Seba Smith. In his "The Money Diggers", he states "'There are more ways than one to skin a cat,' so are there more ways than one of digging for money". He appears to be quoting from another source here, however, and this indicates that the saying may have been known for some years previously. The expression related to the above question about choking a poor inoffensive kitty with cream first appears in the later 1855 novel "Westward Ho!" by English author, Charles Kingsley.

Answer: Goes barefoot

This expression is unfortunately rather true. Many people skilled in particular areas often use those skills solely for the benefit of others, and neglect their own family's needs while doing so. A painter's house, for example, is often in need of a coat of paint, a plumber may have leaky taps at home, or the car of a mechanic's wife may collapse in a heap for want of proper maintenance.

The saying itself originates from England some time during the 16th century, and was probably known for some time there before it found itself recorded on the written page.

Answer: Profoundness

This saying means that if anything given is done so with a generous and kind heart, and the best of intentions, then it can only lead to a deepening and strengthening of one's acuity, wisdom, and discernment.

The origins of the thoughtful proverb rests once again with the Chinese philosopher, Lao-Tzu (604-531 BC). The full extract of his wise words reads "Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love".