Lao Tzu - "Give A Man A Fish, Feed Him For A Day.
Teach A Man To Fish, Feed Him For A Lifetime"
Back in ancient Chinese times, sometime between the 4th and 6th century BC, Lao Tzu was the founder of taoism, the mystical 'way' or 'path' that many have followed since.
And with him came the many sayings for which he is renowned.
One of the best known is the one quoted above, "Give a man a fish; feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish; feed him for a lifetime", which has a wonderful analogy with the modern world of management today.
The metaphor of feeding someone and that sufficing to get them through one day, and one day alone shows that people can only be helped so far. If we help them and do things for them all the time, then they rely on us, which is not only unhealthy for their development of skills, but also potentially dangerous, if we are not there to help them one day, their very future is at risk.
The principle whereby we rely totally on the support, guidance and even nurturing of someone else, for too long a period, is typical of many modern management environments. The old-style 'command and control' management processes lead to employees only being required or even able to do what they were told, which puts great pressure on those doing the telling.
Not only that, but where employees are not provided with stimulating work and aren't asked to challenge themselves mentally, this often leads to demotivation and then higher absence rates, as well as employee turnover that such boredom precipitates.
Lack of stimulation=boredom=frustration=leave to find something else.
Let's look at the flip side, where we 'teach a man to fish'. Not only does the man become self-sufficient and be able to survive without being provided for, but he has a sense of achievement and fulfillment. How good does an angler feel as he pulls a fish from the water?
Much better than when one is placed generously in front of him, merely to eat. Sure it may be good, for a while, to be provided for, but human psyche is bigger than that in a healthy human being. People need to be valued for who they are.
So - we 'teach them to fish'. In the workplace, by teaching out people new skills, we validate them for who they are and the contribution they are able to make. They know they are useful and valued and with this confidence they do more. They learn that to stretch themselves is good. That they have within themselves untapped resources which show off the potential they have always had, now released.
Indeed 'teaching them to fish' realizes not just the material potential they have, but catalyses even bigger capabilities in them. Their development muscle has been stretched and exercised, so it becomes bigger and more capable.
The business upside for 'teaching our people to fish'? Well, managers are able to offload some of their tactical workload to others who relish the opportunity. This frees managers to do more with more of their people.
A workplace environment that becomes the breeding ground for capable, committed and excited employees, straining at the leash to do more. Managers enable their business to become a developmental mixing bowl of ideas and capability like nothing before.
In a business world where the embodiment of excellent management is an operation that works at least as well (and sometimes better!), when the manager is absent is to be acknowledged as the purest quality.
And with that level of capability developed, all because the manager taught his people 'how to fish', business thrives.
How Lao Tzu would smile if he saw how his little saying was as important, in the hurly-burly of the business world today, as it was all those years ago! Proverb Explanation / Meaning A When one's financial situation deteriorates, friends tend to disappear. If a task is carefully planned, there's a better chance that it will be done well. People tend to circulate bad news (accidents, illness etc.) very quickly. A person's character is more important than their appearance. Different people have different tastes. Listen carefully before speaking. Be careful in the choice of the people you associate with. It's better to avoid disputes with stupid people. It's better to deal with somebody difficult but familiar, than change and risk dealing It's better to do something, even if it's late, than not do it at all. It's better to stop and accept a small loss, rather than continue and risk losing People of the same sort are usually found together. D People from the same background have the same behaviour. E Experience and knowledge result in better judgement. People show what they are really like by what they do, rather than by what If you behave in a risky way, you are likely to have problems. I If you let something intrusive enter your life, your life will become difficult . Proverb Explanation / Meaning L M If you get married too quickly, you may spend all your life regretting it. N What you have today is better than what is promised or hoped for. We tend to forget people who are absent. Doing something repeatedly is the only way to become good at it. It is easier to prevent something from happening than to repair the damage or cure the S Physical attacks may harm me, but cruel words will not. You think that something is true because you want it to be so. Time goes by quickly. If too many people are involved in something, it will not be done properly. U V Doing a lot of different things makes life more interesting. People speak more freely under the influence of alcohol. Y
Some other interesting Proverbs and Saying here....
Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
When you are away from someone you love, you love them even more.
Accidents will happen.
Some unfortunate events must be accepted as inevitable.
Actions speak louder than words.
What a person actually does is more important that what they say they will do.
Advice is cheap.
Advice is least heeded when most needed.
When a problem is serious, people often do not follow the advice given.
Advisers run no risks.
All cats are grey in the dark.
People are undistinguished until they have made a name.
All that glitters is not gold.
Appearances can be deceptive.
All days are short to Industry and long to Idleness.
Time goes by slowly when you have nothing to do.
All is fair in love and war
Things that are done in love or war can often be excused.
All's well that ends well
There is a solution to everything even though there are doubts.
All things grow with time - except grief.
As time goes by, grief subsides little by little.
All things are difficult before they are easy.
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
Everybody needs a certain amount of relaxation. It is not good to work all
the time.
An apple a day keeps the doctor away.*
Eating an apple every day can help to keep you healthy.
Other interpretation : A small preventive treatment wards off serious problems.
An empty purse frightens away friends.
An Englishman's home is his castle.
An Englishman's home is a place where he feels safe, enjoys privacy
and can do as he wishes.
An idle brain is the devil's workshop.
When you work you avoid temptation.
An onion a day keeps everyone away.*
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
It is easier to prevent something from happening than to repair the damage or
cure the disease later.
April showers bring May flowers.
A bad tree does not yield good apples.
A bad workman blames his tools.
Blaming the tools for bad workmanship is an excuse for lack of skill.
A bird in hand is worth two in a bush.
It's better to keep what you have than to risk losing it by searching for something better.
A broken friendship may be soldered but will never be
sound. Friendships can be rebuilt after a dispute but will never be as strong as before.
A burden of one's own choice is not felt.
Something difficult seems easier when it is done voluntarily.
A burnt child dreads the fire.
A bad experience will make people stay away from certain things.
A cat has nine lives.
1) Cats can survive many accidents because they land on their feet without injury.
2) Three lives = 3 years to play, 3 years to stray, 3 years to stay.
A chain is no stronger than its weakest link.
The strength of a group depends on each individual member.
A change is as good as a rest.
A dry March, a wet April and a cool May
fill barn and cellar and bring much hay.
A fault confessed is half redressed.
Confession is the beginning of forgiveness.
A fool and his money are soon (easily) parted.
A foolish person usually spends money carelessly.
A friend in need is a friend indeed.
Someone who helps you when you are in trouble.
A friend to all is a friend to none.
Someone who is a friend to everyone makes none of them feel special.
A good beginning makes a good end.
A good conscience is a soft pillow.
You sleep well when you have nothing to feel guilty about.
A guilty conscience needs no accuser.
A leopard cannot change its spots.
It is not possible for a bad or unpleasant person to become good or pleasant.
A loaded wagon makes no noise.
Really wealthy don't talk about money.
A loveless life is a living death.
A man can die but once.
A man is as old as he feels himself to be.
A man is known by the company he keeps.
A person's character is judged by the type of people with whom they spend
their time.
A rising tide lifts all boats.
Describes something that will be helpful to all.
A rolling stone gathers no moss.
If a person keeps moving from place to place, they gain neither friends nor
possessions.
Another interpretation is that, by moving often, one avoids being tied down!
A rotten apple spoils the barrel.
A dishonest or immoral person can have a bad influence on a group.
A smooth sea never made a skilled mariner.
Overcoming adversity leads to competence.
A stitch in time saves nine.
It's better to deal with a problem at an early stage, to prevent it from getting
worse.
A stumble may prevent a fall.
Correcting a small mistake may help you to avoid making a bigger one.
A swallow does not make the summer.
One good event does not mean that everything is alright.
A tree is known by its fruit.
A man is judged by his actions.
A young idler, an old beggar.
If you don't work, you won't have any money when you're old.
After dinner rest a while, after supper walk a mile.
B
Bad news travels fast.
Beauty is only skin deep.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Beauty is the wisdom of women. Wisdom is the
beauty of men.
Be swift to hear, slow to speak.
Better be alone than in bad company.
Better flatter a fool than fight him.
Better the devil you know than the devil you don't
know
with somebody worse.
Better late than never.
Better lose the saddle than the horse.
everything.
Better untaught than ill-taught
It's better not to be taught at all than to be taught badly.
Birds of a feather flock together.
Blood is thicker than water
Family relationships are stronger than relationships with other people.
Blood will out.
A person's background or education will eventually show.
C
Charity begins at home.
A person's first duty is to help and care for his own family.
Children and fools tell the truth.
Cleanliness is next to godliness.
A clean body is just as important as a pure soul.
Clear moon, frost soon.
If the atmosphere is clear, frost may form.
Clothes don't make the man.
Appearances can be deceiving.
Constant occupation prevents temptation.
When you work you avoid temptation.
Dead men tell no tales
A dead person cannot cause difficulties by revealing something that it would be preferable to conceal.
Diamond cuts diamond.
Refers to two people equally matched in wit or cunning.
Diligence is the mother of good fortune.
Hard work brings rewards.
Diseases of the soul are more dangerous than
those of the body.
Distance makes the heart grow fonder.
When you are separated from the person you love, your feelings are even stronger.
Dogs of the same street bark alike.
Don't bark if you can't bite.
Don't complain if you can't enforce your point of view.
Don't count your chickens before they're hatched.
You must not be too confident that something will be successful.
Don't dig your grave with your own knife and fork.
Don't do something yourself which causes your own downfall.
Don't judge a book by its cover.
Don't judge by appearances.
Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy,
wealthy and wise.
Easier said than done.
What is suggested sounds easy but it is more difficult to actually do it.
Empty vessels make the most noise.
The least intelligent people are often the most talkative or noisy.
Every man is the architect of his own fortune.
Every path has its puddle.
Progress is rarely without difficulty.
Every why has a wherefore.
There is an explanation for everything.
Everything in the garden is rosy.
Everything is satisfactory.
Experience is the father of wisdom.
F
Facts speak louder than words.
they say.
Failure teaches success.
False friends are worse than open enemies.
Familiarity breeds contempt
Knowing somebody very well may lead to a lack of respect for them.
Fool me once, shame on you;
fool me twice, shame on me. One should learn from one's mistakes.
Fools rush in where angels fear to tread
Inexperienced people act in situations that more intelligent people would avoid
Friendship is love with understanding.
G
Give someone an inch and they will take a mile.
Give someone a little and they will want more - some people are never satisfied.
Give someone enough rope and they will hang
themselves. Give someone enough time and freedom and they will get into trouble.
God helps those who help themselves.
Good and quickly seldom meet.
A well-done job takes time.
Good management is better than good income.
Great minds think alike.
Great oaks grow from little acorns.
Large successful operations can begin in a small way.
Grief divided is made lighter
H
Half a loaf is better than none.
You should be grateful for something, even if it's not as much as you wanted.
Haste makes waste.
If something is done too quickly, it may be done carelessly and need to be redone.
Hatred is a blind as love.
A person who feels hatred does not see any qualities in the person he/she hates.
He has enough who is content.
He who knows nothing, doubts nothing.
Knowledge leads us to make choices.
He who pays the piper calls the tune.
The person who provides the money for something should control how it is spent
He who plays with fire gets burnt.
He laughs best who laughs last.
Don't express your joy, or your triumph, too soon!
Health is better than wealth.
Home is where the heart is.
You call home the place where the people you love are.
Honesty is the best policy.
Honey catches more flies than vinegar.
You can obtain more cooperation from others by being nice.
In times of prosperity friends are plentiful.
You have many friends when you have no difficulties.
If a camel gets his nose in a tent, his body will
follow.
If in February there be no rain, 'tis neither good
for hay nor grain.
If you are patient in one moment of anger,
you will avoid 100 days of sorrow.
If you chase two rabbits, you will not catch either
one. If you try to do two things at the same time, you won't succeed in doing either of them.
If you want a friend, be a friend.
Ignorance is bliss.
Possible interpretation: What you do not know causes no worry or sadness.
In for a penny, in for a pound.
If you start something, it's better to spend the time or money necessary to complete it.
In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.
It never rains but it pours.
Misfortunes usually come in large numbers.
It is always darkest before the dawn
The most difficult time is just before a problem is solved.
It's no use crying over spilt milk.
Don't express regret for something that has happened and cannot be remedied.
It takes all sorts to make a world.
People vary in character and abilities, and this is a good thing.
K
Knowledge in youth is wisdom in age.
Knowledge is power.
Kill the goose that lays the golden egg.
Destroy something that would be a source of wealth or success.
Kindness begets kindness.
If you are kind to people, they will be kind to you.
Learn to walk before you run.
Don't rush into doing something until you know how to do it.
Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner
everywhere. Education is something you keep forever.
Let bygones be bygones.
Let's forgive and forget past quarrels.
Liars need good memories.
Lightning never strikes in the same place twice
An unusual event is not likely to occur again in exactly the same circumstances.
Like father, like son.
A son's character can be expected to resemble his father's.
Look before you leap.
Consider possible consequences before taking action.
Loose lips sink ships.
Disclosing important information ( to the enemy or a competitor) could result in large
losses.
Love is blind.
A person in love does not see the faults of the person he/she loves.
Make a silk purse out of a sow's ear
Manage to produce something good using poor material.
Man is the head of the family;
woman is the neck that turns the head.
Man proposes, God disposes.
Our destiny depends on God's will.
Manners make the man.
Possibly: a person's manners show their origins.
Many hands make light work.
Sharing work makes work easier.
Marry in haste, repent at leisure.
Memory is the treasure of the mind.
Men make houses, women make homes.
Might as well be hanged for a sheep as (for) a lamb
If the penalty is going to be the same, you might as well commit the greater offence.
Money begets money.
If you have money you can make more money.
Money is the root of all evil.
Money is the main cause of wrongdoing and problems.
Necessity is the mother of invention.
The need for something forces people to find a way of obtaining it.
Never put off till tomorrow what can be done today
Don't postpone something you can do now.
Never say die.
Never give up.
Nobody is perfect.
No man is an island.
We all need other people.
No news is good news.
If the news was bad, we would hear of it. Since we have heard nothing,
we can assume that all is well.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
You cannot expect to achieve anything if you don't take risks.
O
Once bitten, twice shy.
After an unpleasant experience, people are careful to avoid something similar.
One good turn deserves another.
You should be helpful to someone who helps you.
One of these days is none of these days.
'One of these days' remains vague.
One today is worth two tomorrow.
One man's meat is another man's poison
People don't always like the same things.
Only real friends will tell you when your face is
dirty. Only a real friend will tell you the truth.
Opportunity seldom knocks twice.
Don't miss opportunities that come along.
Out of sight, out of mind.
P
Penny wise, pound foolish.
Refers to a person who is careful about spending small amounts of money, but
not careful about spending large amounts of money.
People who live in glass houses should not throw
stones. One should not criticize others for faults similar to one's own.
Practice makes perfect.
Practise what you preach
Do yourself what you advise others to do.
Prevention is better than cure
disease later.
Pride comes before a fall.
Don't be too self-confident or proud; something may happen to make you look foolish.
Procrastination is the thief of time
Delaying an action for too long is a waste of time.
Put all your eggs in one basket
Risk everything by relying on one plan (by putting all one's money in one business).
R
Revenge is sweet.
There is satisfaction in returning an injury.
Rome was not built in a day.
It takes a long time to do a job properly. You should not expect to do it quickly.
Save me from my friends.
Friends can be more dangerous than enemies.
Saying is one thing, doing is another.
People don't always do what they announce.
Short reckonings make long friends.
Debts paid quickly encourage friendship.
Sickness in the body brings sadness to the mind.
Snug as a bug in a rug.
Feeling very comfortable.
Spare the rod and spoil the child
If you don't punish a child when he does wrong, you will spoil his character.
Sticks and stones will break my bones but names
will never hurt me
Still waters run deep.
A quiet person can have much knowledge or wisdom.
A stitch in time saves nine
It's better to deal with a problem in its early stages, because if you don't, it will get
worse.
Stolen fruit is the sweetest.
What is forbidden is the most tempting.
T
Tall oaks grow from little acorns.
Great things may come from small beginnings.
The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
Children resemble their parents.
The best advice is found on the pillow.
After a good night's sleep we may find an answer to our problem.
The devil looks after his own.
Success comes to those who deserve it least .
The devil makes work for idle hands
People who have no work, or are idle, often get into or make trouble.
The die is cast.
A decision has been made and it's impossible to change it.
The early bird catches the worm.
If you want to do something successfully, you should do it as soon as you can.
The end justifies the means.
Wrong or unfair methods may be used if the result of the action is good.
The more haste, the less speed.
A person makes more progress if they do things less quickly.
The more you have, the more you want.
The pen is mightier than the sword
Words and communication have greater effect than war and fighting.
The proof of the pudding is in the eating.
The real value of something can be judged only after it has been tried or tested.
The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
It's not enough to intend to do something, you must actually do it.
The tongue wounds more than a lance.
Insults can be more hurtful than physical injuries.
The truth is in the wine.
People speak more freely under the influence of alcohol.
The wish is father to the thought.
There is no fool like an old fool.
A older person is expected to behave more sensibly.
There is safety in numbers
Being in a crowd makes you feel more confident.
Time and tide wait for no man.
No one can delay the passing of time.
Time has wings.
Time is money.
Time is valuable and should not be wasted.
To err is human, to forgive divine
It is human nature to make mistakes, therefore one should forgive.
Too many cooks spoil the broth.
Trust not a horse's heel nor a dog's tooth.
Truth is stranger than fiction.
Events in real life are sometimes stranger than in fiction.
Two wrongs don't make a right
It is wrong to harm someone because they have harmed you.
Union is strength.
Variety is the spice of life.
Virtue is its own reward.
You should not expect praise for acting in a correct or moral way.
W
Walls have ears.
Be careful. People could be listening.
Waste not, want not.
If you never waste anything, you will have it when you need it.
What the eye doesn't see, the heart doesn't grieve
over. If a person doesn't know about something, it cannot hurt them.
What a man says drunk, he thinks sober.
What soberness conceals, drunkenness reveals.
People are less discreet under the influence of alcohol.
When the cat's away, the mice play.
People misbehave when their boss, or the person in authority, is absent.
When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
You should adopt the customs of the people or country you are visiting,
and behave in the same way.
When poverty come in the door, love goes out the
window.
Where there's life there's hope.
Where there's a will, there's a way.
A person with determination will find a way of doing something.
Who makes himself a sheep will be eaten by the wolves.
Possible interpretation: an easily influenced person can be mislead.
Wisdom is better than strength.
Wonders will never cease!
Expresses surprise at an unexpected pleasure or event (ironic).
You are what you eat.
You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours.
You help me and I'll help you.
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British Sayings and Proverbs
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Proverbs 'Every cloud has a silver lining' 'A stitch in time saves nine' 'Nothing ventured nothing gained' 'Out of the frying pan into the fire' 'One man's meat is another man's poison' 'Don't look a gift horse in the mouth' 'You can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make it drink' 'The grass is always greener on the other side' 'The best things in life are free' 'Don't cross your bridges before you come to them' 'It was the last straw that broke the camel's back' This can be applied to many things in life. People often say "That's the last straw!" when they will not accept any more of something. 'Where there's a will there's a way' 'Marry in haste, and repent at leisure' 'The best advice is found on the pillow' People also say: "I'll sleep on it." 'You can't judge a book by its cover' 'Bad news travels fast' 'Birds of a feather flock together' 'Live and let live' 'The way to a man's heart is through his stomach' 'Better untaught than ill taught.' 'Soon learnt, soon forgotten' Sayings 'Bob's your uncle'
'Burning the Candle at Both Ends' 'Eyes are bigger than your belly' 'Sleep Tight' 'Tie the Knot' |
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Important: The source of this collection is unknown, as I was emailed these tables by somebody. If you know the source, please let me know. Thanks to Roslyn Tierney (Tasmania AUS) for contributing the following Scandinavian proverbs:
NORWEGIAN
Not all keys hang from one girdle.
NORWEGIAN
Old habits have deep roots.
NORWEGIAN
He who follows the river comes at last to the sea.
SWEDISH
The house that is built after every man's advice seldom gets a roof.
SWEDISH
The hand that gives gathers.
SWEDISH
In calm water every ship has a good captain.
DANISH
The horse one cannot have always has a fault.
DANISH
Shared joy is doubled joy.
DANISH
He who fears finds a way out.
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