Three Pieces of Folk Wisdom
Author: Ken Homer Issue: 2025-08-20
Three Pieces of Folk Wisdom
by Ken Homer
The Circularity of Learning
~ Author unknown
A young person goes to an elder and asks how to obtain wisdom. The teacher thinks for a moment and says: By exercising good judgment. The young person asks how to obtain good judgment. The elder replies: By gaining experience. The young person asks how to obtain experience. The elder smiles and tells them: By exercising bad judgment.
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How the Times Produce People
~ Authorship disputed
Hard times create strong people Strong people create easy times Easy times create soft people Soft people create hard times
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When Is It a True Dawn?
~ Author unknown
A teacher asked his young charges: How can you tell when it is a true dawn? The first one answered: When you can distinguish the mountains from the foothills. Ah, a good answer, but not what I am looking for. The second one answered: When you can tell a ram from a ewe. Another good answer, but still not what I am looking for. The third one answered: When you can read the lines in the palm of your hand. Yet another good reply and still not what I am looking for. No one else had an answer and someone asked: So how can we tell when it is a true dawn? The teacher answered: When you look into the eyes of another and see yourself. Then you will know that it is a true dawn.
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