I find there to be profound wisdom in proverbs, sayings and quotes and I marvel at the way they are so succinct in communicating messages to the reader. Mostly anonymous, they come to us from past generations and from across cultures. They speak of the experiences of lives lived and lessons learned. Quotes, like proverbs, make us think more deeply about something. Each Thursday, I post a Proverb or Saying and a Quote that I find thought-provoking. I hope you will too.
Where the heart is full of, the mouth will spill it out.
(Waar het hart vol van is, stroomt de mond van over)
- Dutch proverb supplied by Gerard from https://oosterman.wordpress.com/
“Better to lose count while naming your blessings than to lose your blessings to counting your troubles.” ~ Maltbie D. Babcock
Proverbial Thursday at Something to Ponder About
Something to Ponder About 
Amazing how words can affect us in so many ways.
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Yes Lulu. It is fascinating. The power of the pen etc. Certain sayings resonate with us more than others. They can be owerful enough to change behaviour in an instant. And many thanks for your comment!
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Both are such truths. When overjoyed with gladness, our mouths are eager to share the news. And when we are burdened we are tempted so to tarry upon our troubles, when in fact we could subtract from them if we stopped to consider our many blessings.
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It is a certain mindset that can help or hinder us. It takes practise to reverse a negative thought “train” but it can be done and can alter mood to the more positive outward looking view. However this is often difficult to start with. Thanks for your comment , Coffee.
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For the first time, the quotes have sort of stumped me. They sort of feel alien to me. Then again, first time I’m hearing them. I really am not sure how to go about the first one, but I’m thinking that if the heart is pure and full of good, then what we say and do reflects that. As for the second proverb: no one wants to lose it all in the end. I guess it sort of relates to appreciating what we have in the moment and making the most of them…even though we might not be able to attend to everyone of them. I don’t know, maybe you might want to explain… 🙂
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The second quote does encourage us to look on the brighter side of things, Mabel, at least I think it does. It is also a bit of a play on words. I am not a big fan of this quote, really. The first one from Gerard, is possibly harder to translate, and he may have given us a literal translation. Perhaps when we are head over heels in love, we want to shout it from the rooftops, it is all we talk about. And we have to tell everyone? What do you think of that interpretation?
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I suppose if we are happy we want to share happiness around. I don’t know. When I’m happy, I generally like to keep to myself for a bit and revel in the moment. Maybe that’s the introvert in me coming out.
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Whether we spill it out or keep it to ourself, depends, for me on the circumstances. Within my immediate family circle, partner and kids, I can and will share it immediately. With extended family, ( even parents), friends and team mates: I am more reticent and will pick the right moment. If I just blurted it at to one and all, it would seem a little self-indulgent and why would other people be so interested in what feels joyous to me? So you see, there is an introvert hiding in me too!
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I particularly like the second proverb here. It reminds me of the half-full drinking glass idea (better to say half full than be negative and say half empty). To me the proverb is about the destructive nature of negative thought. I think the first one might be easier to understand if the first word were ‘when’ instead of ‘where’. It seems to be about ‘spitting out’ or talking about things when they build up inside us. I suppose we all do that, at some stage. Bottling things up is never a good idea, whether they are good or bad (although circumstances and recipient ‘audience’ must be carefully taken into account). Very thought-provoking again, Amanda.
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I think that interpretation has merit, Millie. A danish friend has given me a different interpretation of the Dutch proverb. She claims there is a Danish saying that is similar wording and it alludes to those freudian slips we might have when we say something that we can’t stop thinking about. It may be appropriate to say something else but when the heart is full, the mouth will spit out or say what you are really thinking.
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Yes, I like your Danish friend’s interpretation. I sounds right.
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