I research issues concerning sharing of (political) power, and I am interested in popular sayings (proverbs, aphorisms, maxims, adages) relating to governing (government, rule, authorities, power).
Such sayings often make us think reflectively since they contain much truth about, among others, the realities, mechanisms, and philosophy of governing. I am curious about such sayings in your countries.
The English say: "all things are obedient to money," and the Poles say: "money rules the world."
Politicians treat people more as numbers that pay taxes than persons that shoud be respected. This is a Portuguese saying
If you what to kown a man/woman give him/her power, namely political power,
Politicians tend to make promisses they do not intend to fulfill in advance.
Dear Prof. Krzysztof Trzcinski In Venezuela is---maduro...---I can´t write here the rest of the sentence, I apologise. Regards.
It principle, politicians are great liars either when they govern their countries or aspire to be govern them.
If you want to earn much and work little, then become a politician.
All politicians speak of justice either when they are in power or in the opposition. If this were true, then we would live in a fair and just world. This, we know, is not the case
For principled people, principles should rule the world. For people oriented to money, the world is ruled by money. When there are an apparently exclusive opposition, in principle is always possible to find a tertium quid or an in-between stance.
A popular saying “ you Ruled, you made justice, you Secured, you slept " .
Sometimes it becomes so hard to steal that sometimes you catch yourself thinking that it seems you are working. Everyone knows what to do, but no one knows how. "We wanted the best, but it turned out as always" (Viktor Chernomyrdin, Prime Minister of Russia). In Russia there are two troubles: bad roads and fools. Recently, the roads have become much better, and the fools will help to cope with artificial intelligence (of course, provided that it will be developed and used not fools). http://lc.kubagro.ru/Decree_President_Russian_Federation_10_10_2019_N_490.pdf
Proverbs are, say, crystalized wisdom. Their beauty lies in saying much by saying little, that is, by spending little ink.
"Mr Money is a powerful gentleman"
"Poderoso caballero es Don Dinero"
No man is good enough to govern another man without that other's consent.
Abraham Lincoln
Dear Krzysztof Trzcinski,
Here are some common sayings often used in my country:
Politics is a lie!
Politics is the skill of cheating peoples!
Politics is the second oldest craft in the world with the characteristics of the world's first oldest craft!
(It is thought that prostitution is the first oldest craft in the world)
A good (successful) politician is a good liar!
Where there are many laws, there is much injustice!
The worst (worst) country has the most laws!
The state gives according to God's justice: the rich more and the poor less!
It is more sin to start a bank than to rob a bank!
A good ruler is a servant of the people!
Power is delight!
Do not curse the king, even in your thought; Do not curse the rich, even in your bedroom; For a bird of the air may carry your voice, And a bird in flight may tell the matter.
Ecclesiastes 10: 20
As per Donald Trump: "You can't believe your lying eyes and ears". "It is all fake news".
Rich
Do not believe much in politicians. They are experts in promising what they know in advance they are not going to do.
Do not believe much in politicians. They tend to treat you as number that pays taxes not as person who has the rigth to the truth.
"Be plural like the universe!"
Fernando Pessoa (a famous Portuguese poet)
"Communism fundamentally distinguishes itself from fascism because it was the first."
Vergílio Ferreira (A Portuguese writer)
Here's one I just made up - We have no white collar crime and little blue collar crime, but much no collar crime, i.e. those who can't afford a collar (e.g. the poor, the indigenous and the mentally disabled)
"My concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right.”
Abraham Lincoln
"Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies.”
Groucho Marx
It is a sad reality, but it is true. The most vulnerable people, chilldren, the elderly and the mentally ill, are often maltreatred because they are not able to retaliate. And politicians seem to not worry about much about this.
In principle, politicians are experts in promising what they know in advance they are not going to deliver. So, do not trust much on politicians' promises.
A Portuguese saying.
What politicians give us with one hand are just the same that take away with their other hand that which they had given us previously.
" I cannot sleep unless I am surrounded by books."
Jorge Luis Borges (a famous writer from Argentina)
"I believe that in time we will have reached the point where we will deserve to be free of government."
Jorge Luis Borges (a famous writer from Argentina)
Dear Krzysztof, I found this translated sonnet of Giuseppe Gioacchino Belli. The original is not in italian, but in the dialect of Rome; it was composed in the XIX century. It is undoubtedly hard, but it can give an impression of the reception of power. Some verses are sometimes quoted in Italy. As I could see, the translator, Peter Nicholas Dale, translated the whole work of Belli into Strine, the australian dialect spoken in Australia down to the sixties. Best regards, Gianluigi Here the text: The Lieders a the Old World (Li Soprani der Monno Vecchio) Translated by Peter Nicholas Dale
"Wunce upon a time from his palatial hall a king Pud an edict out f’ris peoples ut sed: “Hey yu chaps! I'm me, got it?, an yu lot ain’ wirth a fucken thing, Ya bunch a slaven arseholes: so shutcha traps.
I get the strait ta bend over, an I straiten up the bent, I can hock the lottayez f’ra bob or two adda throw: An if get yez hanged id ain’ crueldy: ’cos, ya know, Life an properdy’s jus stuff I pud up fa rent.
Anywun on this planet, if he ain’t a King, Or if he lacks a title like ‘Emp’ra’ or ‘Pope’, That fellah can’ ever have a say in anything.”
His hangman wen’ out with the edict ta size up folks’ views N’ grilled ev’rywun as t’w its tenor, fa the inside dope, N’ t’wa man they all ansered back: “It’s true. Yep, it’s true.”
Dear Gianluigi,
Many thanks for the text of the sonnet.
I do appreciate.
Kind regards,
Krzysztof
A Spanish saying that can be applied to political corruption: "Never put the fox to take care of the chickens".
"Nunca pongas a la zorra a guardar las gallinas".
Whoever holds the yam and the knife decides who gets a share of the yam
As you climb up the tree, always have in mind that you will come down from the tree one day; it may be sooner than expected
This world would be better if it were governed by women. They have a huge ability to put on another's skin and shoes and to take care of those who need support of any kind.
When politicians think of people they think of them more as numbers to pay taxes than persons that should be respected.
How will s/he who does not know how to govern himself/herseld know how to govern others?
An old woman doesn't get tired of the dance she knows very well
"He who approaches a good tree, a good shadow protects him".
"El que a buen arbol se arrima, buena sombre le cobija".
If you want to spoil a work, establish a bureaucratic committee.
About "career growth":
"Taken from the dirt, but planted in riches"
Those who are at the top rung of authoritative power are more likely prone to experience decline.
As a political/elected leader, never forget to protect the interest of the majority/people who voted you into power; they also have the votes to vote you out of power
While in power, don't step on too many toes; you will leave power one day
Most laws and regulations are in bad government (a very old Polish proverb).
"You must not trust three things, the politicians, the weather and the sea."
When you climb Iroko/Orji tree, take all the firewoods you need, as it's too difficult to climb the tree twice
Do not laugh at someone who is in agony, it may be your turn tomorrow
God is everywhere, but he lives in Buenos Aires.
Hecho la ley, hecho la trampa.
I am sometimes a fox and sometimes a lion. The whole secret of government lies in knowing when to be the one or the other.
Cum e stăpânul așa-i și sluga / Cum e turcul și pistolul -
Like master, like man.
Când pisica nu-i acasă, joacă şoarecii pe masă -
When the cat is away, the mice will play.
Better to be died but on horseback (in power) than to be live but on foot (without power).
A fish always rots from the head down (...but it is cleaned from the tail).
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