42 Proverbs

1. To reach proficiency at any discipline, one must listen to both novices and masters. For a novice might have one trick, and a master might have a thousand. To know them both, you know one thousand and one tricks.
2. If you are an intelligent man, work only with your mind. If you are a man of mean intelligence, work with your hands and your mind. If you are a dull man, work only with your hands.
3. Christians, you are salt and light: Therefore, hearken to Christ's Doctrine, and uplift the man who is burdened with many sorrows, be he Greek or Jew, Atheist or Polytheist, Christian or Heathen. Cheer him, do not curse him. For you are always cursing, and it makes a man who's seen God's face ready to call Him a liar on your account.
4. Christians, there is one command to you, and not two. Be mindful, the man who says “Love God” or the man who says “Love your neighbor” are only half a Christian. The man who says “I am saved by grace” or the man who says “I am filled with a burden for the poor and downtrodden” are only half a Christian.
5. Atheists, you do well to think there is a moral that is universal. Yet, you call it empathy, but shun discipline. This is why you are unwise, for there can be no empathy, where discipline is slack.
6. Hindus, your religion is good, until it teaches you there are men whom you must spite. There is only this life, and the next. There is no reincarnation, therefore, treat your neighbor like he were only going to have this one life, and you will do well.
7. Buddhists, I applaud your ethics, and moral upbringing, but then you surmount that life is only suffering. On that notion, I am Christian, for while I know life involves suffering, there is a great joy here, too.
8. Muslims, you are good folk, and hearty people, but too simplistic.
9. There are many laws, and many religions. Yet only one truth. Yet, men subjugated to only one way, is not good. For, men being diverse is a good thing for it makes life interesting.
10. When debating with a more intelligent man, probe him for knowledge if you must. Do not fear being humiliated by him, unless he carries with him the sword. For by your humiliation, you are rewarded with a new insight.
11. When debating with a man of equal intelligence, debate sharply, and remember to listen close. Make his arguments strong, before you make your arguments. And listen to every word.
12. When debating with a fool, know he will humiliate you. His words are comprehended by everyone, and at last, he is a mockingbird for none understood your dark speech.
13. If you fail in life, do not take it out on others. Who knows if your proverbs shall endure, and be like talents stored at interest in the treasury?
14. It is better to be poor, starving and near death, than feasting, knowing your entire wealth was borne on the backs of those you took it from.
15. Every generation perpetrates great crimes against humanity. And every generation thinks to have learned or restored their debts.
16. If you are at work underneath a mean man, listen to his words, for they are life. Though your superior is a wise man, and his superior a mean man, follow your superior, though mean or wise. Do only the task that is instructed, and what you have learned and go no further. And do what you have been trained to do, and no thing else.
17. If you understand a thing here, and a thing there, bring all of it to your employment. And listen closely... roam free and look for what needs to be done. Do not stand idly, unless the work is finished.
18. If you are a man who employs labor, do not make the entire job like it were given to a machine. Men are free... let them roam, let them make work for themselves. Yet, if they are untrustworthy or slothful, leave them. They are of no good. A man who cannot be trusted to his own designs, to do good work, is not one that is employable.
19. Always move on the job. But, at time of rest, stay still.
20. Marry a wife who is like you in most every way. Yet, she will be different and will cut off your childishness. And you will cut off hers. For you are two children, who come together and become one family of adults raising their own children. For the boy or girl does not become grown, until they marry. 
21. Gladden your wife's heart, and merry her amusements. Make her happy. Do things for her soul, for she may take you on an adventure you never knew. Occupy your time with things other than mating and business. Find time for things which friends do together.
22. If your wife have many friends, and they are not your friends, then you have enemies which you cannot defend yourself against. Yet, a good wife will have few friends and not many.
23. Find three true friends in your life, and if they are mad at you, leave them for a season. And find them again where you left them, and reconcile. They never change, truly, and remain who they always were at their core. Yet, if they change, perhaps you did not know them as well as you thought?
24. Regard your animal as if it were your friend. Be it a fish, or a kine, or a dog or cat. Love them, for they were given to us for companionship.
25. Wake up, wash, drink a few cups of coffee, eat a fine grain, walk outside, and let your eyes see sunlight. You shall be awakened for your work for the day's task.
26. Work within a few miles of home. Do not travel over large distances, unless you wish to lose what you have stored there.
27. There is a man who doesn't stay at home. He ought not find a wife. There is a woman the same. She ought not find a husband. They ought remain virginal, and purify the earth of their flesh.
28. All things on earth are combat. That is how the kings have made it. And that is why many are wounded. What can salve them, beside love?
29. To give to a leech, is to draw out blood. There is no good in a leech, so to reflect a man who will drain his father's stores and do no work for him or any other.
30. There is a man who labors much, but profits little. Such a man is also a blessing on himself and others, and in due season will cause all around him to flourish, and they know not how or why, though they will torment him with many unkind words.
31. There is a man who labors little, but profits much. Such a man is a curse on all around him, but himself. He causes all around him to get poor and needy, and his wealth grows, and his fields are joined, so the poor say, “Where is our homestead?”
32. There is a King who benefits himself, and by doing so, benefits all around him. He does neither good nor evil.
33. There is a King who benefits himself, and by doing so, ruins all around him. He does great harm.
34. There is a King who does good, but must do evil for that is his lawful authority, to do evil on this Earth for the sake of making peace.
35. Better to die poor, than be a king. For the king must murder and lead captive. That is his true business.
36. The King is rich, for in the next life he shall suffer much.
37. The Diplomat is rich, but his job is to make peace---like many men of God, this authority was not wasted, for the King is the Sword, and the Diplomat is the Shield.
38. Democracy is sound---yet who is the King in a Democracy? That is why they are so peaceful.
39. Merchants who act like Kings, are men who ought be hanged.
40. Great men are not born, they are not made, they are rather those who walk close to providence.
41. A grievous sinner must be forgiven, or he will have no reason to repent. Therefore, forgive him, lest his heart be fully committed to evil. Aye! That is why we have Christ, you know? For man is less likely to do this, but with God, all things are possible, even for a bad man to become a good man.
42. I looked under the sun, and saw one thing which was pleasing: To work, and eat from the labors you enjoy. Let thy servant drink the fine wine his feet had pressed, and eat the fine grains in your field, and a portion of the meat from thy cattle, and find time to please himself with his wife and children, and you will be a happy lord, for you will have a happy servant.

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