One of my favorite pastimes used to be reading the dictionary and then looking at nearby words… or definitions of words in the definition. Now I do a very similar thing on the web.
One of my favorite pastimes used to be looking up a word in the dictionary or encyclopedia and then following a zig-zag track from there to wherever it led. Now I use the web for that.
“The journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step.” Big deal. Getting up to visit the john also begins with a single step. Sonority does not equal wisdom. You can learn that from Lao Tzu; you can also learn it from Khalil Gibran. Shakespeare has his moments too, as Bernard Sharpoint it out.
Quotes tend to get more than translated but modified to fit the language of the speaker. “A journey of a thousand third of a miles begins with a single step” does not work as well.
Also “give them an inch they’ll take an ell” does not work as well in a society that does not use the ell as a type of distance.
But both have been used to demonstrate how Americans exaggerate since neither measurement is anywhere near a mile in length.
I like the last quotation about zigging and zagging, finding a distraction, and having the length of the journey be twice as long. I equate it to cleaning up the house which can take all day as you put something where it belongs, pick up something else to move and go on and on.
Not sure this is quite the same thing, but… thanks to the commenter a while back who brought my attention to Frazz’ FB page, I now go there immediately after reading the strip and most of the comments! Because the comments are helpful to me sometimes, I haven’t quite decided about whether it’s best to read them first and then go to FB, or vice versa. Life is difficult!!
The proverb ‘A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step’ is first found in the Tao Te Ching, which is a classical Chinese Taoist text usually credited to Laozi (a.k.a. Lao Tzu), and probably written between the 4th and 6th century BC. The original text is:
“A journey of a thousand li [a Chinese mile] starts beneath one’s feet”
From the quote 千里之行,始於足下, by the Chinese philosopher Lao (c 604 bc – c 531 bc) in the Tao Te Ching, chapter 64. Sometimes this quote is erroneously attributed to Laozi’s contemporary, Confucius (c 551 bc – c 479 bc), founder of Confucianism.
Lao Tzu also wrote: Without going out of my door, I can see all things on earth. … The farther one travels, the less one knows. (Tao Te Ching, Chapter 47, G. Harrison trans.)
So maybe that single step is a bad idea. Was the verse Caulfield quotes intended as a warning?
Concretionist over 3 years ago
One of my favorite pastimes used to be reading the dictionary and then looking at nearby words… or definitions of words in the definition. Now I do a very similar thing on the web.
Concretionist over 3 years ago
One of my favorite pastimes used to be looking up a word in the dictionary or encyclopedia and then following a zig-zag track from there to wherever it led. Now I use the web for that.
Bilan over 3 years ago
If you’re in Family Circus, the zigging and zagging is 10x as far.
pschearer Premium Member over 3 years ago
I’m sure the Romans weren’t the only culture to have a measurement based on 1000 paces.
Sanspareil over 3 years ago
Miles Standish did not know he had 999 others of his name and I doubt he would want to go on a journey with them!
jrobertstevens over 3 years ago
The Chinese measurement term is “Li”.
Ignatz Premium Member over 3 years ago
It’s called “translation,” Caulfield. You’re supposed to be precocious.
Jeffin Premium Member over 3 years ago
The journey of a thousand smiles starts with one essential tooth.
sandpiper over 3 years ago
So, keeping one’s eye on the ball is successful only so long as one’s other eye is on it, too?
rugeirn over 3 years ago
“The journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step.” Big deal. Getting up to visit the john also begins with a single step. Sonority does not equal wisdom. You can learn that from Lao Tzu; you can also learn it from Khalil Gibran. Shakespeare has his moments too, as Bernard Sharpoint it out.
DM2860 over 3 years ago
Quotes tend to get more than translated but modified to fit the language of the speaker. “A journey of a thousand third of a miles begins with a single step” does not work as well.
Also “give them an inch they’ll take an ell” does not work as well in a society that does not use the ell as a type of distance.
But both have been used to demonstrate how Americans exaggerate since neither measurement is anywhere near a mile in length.
Grutzi over 3 years ago
I like the last quotation about zigging and zagging, finding a distraction, and having the length of the journey be twice as long. I equate it to cleaning up the house which can take all day as you put something where it belongs, pick up something else to move and go on and on.
Richard S Russell Premium Member over 3 years ago
At my age, a journey of a thousand millimetres begins with a single groan.
anomaly over 3 years ago
Leaving the measurement as a thousand ‘ri’ is awkward when all the other words are in English.
swenbu Premium Member over 3 years ago
Not sure this is quite the same thing, but… thanks to the commenter a while back who brought my attention to Frazz’ FB page, I now go there immediately after reading the strip and most of the comments! Because the comments are helpful to me sometimes, I haven’t quite decided about whether it’s best to read them first and then go to FB, or vice versa. Life is difficult!!
ChukLitl Premium Member over 3 years ago
Tao Te Ching is brilliant ironic comedy. It opens with; for a peaceful empire muzzle the bright ones.
Cactus-Pete over 3 years ago
I’m guessing that Lao Tzu didn’t use the word “journey” either, or “begins”, or anything else in English.
Ukko wilko over 3 years ago
Lao Tzu expressed the saying in Chinese and used “li” as the unit of measure.
asrialfeeple over 3 years ago
“If you want to go fast, travel alone. If you want to go far, bring company”
briangj2 over 3 years ago
The proverb ‘A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step’ is first found in the Tao Te Ching, which is a classical Chinese Taoist text usually credited to Laozi (a.k.a. Lao Tzu), and probably written between the 4th and 6th century BC. The original text is:
“A journey of a thousand li [a Chinese mile] starts beneath one’s feet”
https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/a-journey-of-a-thousand-miles-begins-with-a-single-step.html
From the quote 千里之行,始於足下, by the Chinese philosopher Lao (c 604 bc – c 531 bc) in the Tao Te Ching, chapter 64. Sometimes this quote is erroneously attributed to Laozi’s contemporary, Confucius (c 551 bc – c 479 bc), founder of Confucianism.
Chinese:
Cantonese: 千里之行,始於足下, 千里之行,始于足下 (cin1 lei5 zi1 hang4, ci2 jyu1 zuk1 haa6)
Mandarin: 千里之行,始於足下, 千里之行,始于足下 (qiānlǐ zhīxíng, shǐyú zúxià)
https://www.wordsense.eu/a_journey_of_a_thousand_miles_begins_with_a_single_step/
fritzoid Premium Member over 3 years ago
Lao Tzu also wrote: Without going out of my door, I can see all things on earth. … The farther one travels, the less one knows. (Tao Te Ching, Chapter 47, G. Harrison trans.)
So maybe that single step is a bad idea. Was the verse Caulfield quotes intended as a warning?
Night-Gaunt49[Bozo is Boffo] over 3 years ago
“Knowing others is intelligence;
knowing yourself is true wisdom.
Mastering others is strength;
mastering yourself is true power.”
― Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching
mistercatworks over 3 years ago
I believe this was attributed to “Ibid”. :)
MITZI over 3 years ago
Jef Mallett: Your wit and grace are appreciated.
soaringblocks over 3 years ago
TRUE!
DM2860 over 3 years ago
You determine the start and turns of the journey so in part whether it is good or bad is up to you.