24 - (a little quarrel may become a fierce hatred) 89. M ộ t s ự nh ị n Là chín s ự lành. Control your anger once And nine times peace will be with you. 90. No m ấ t ngonGi ậ n m ấ t khôn. You have no appetite when you are full Likewise, you lose wisdom when you get angry. 91. Đ ánh chó ngó chúa . Before beating a dog, look for its master .Avoid having contention with others: 92. V ỏ quít d ầ y có móng tay nh ọ n .The thick tangerine skin must expect to be cut by a sharp nail. 93. Đượ c ki ệ n m ườ i b ố n quan n ă mThua ki ệ n m ườ i l ă m quan ch ẵ n. If your lawsuit be lost, you pay fifteen (strings of coins) And not less than fourteen and a half if you win it. 94. Ch ư a đ ánh đượ c ng ườ i m ặ t đỏ nh ư vang Đ ánh đượ c ng ườ i m ặ t vàng nh ư ngh ệ . Before beating your enemy your face is red (with anger) After having beaten him your face turns yellow (fron anxiety) Also avoid being in debt: 95. Nh ấ t t ộ i nhì n ợ . The worst things are first punishment, then debt. If you are meeting someone too nice, beware: 96. Cá vàng b ụ ng b ọ .The goldfish has a belly full of worms.
97. M ậ t ng ọ t ch ế t ru ồ i. Sweet honey entraps flies. Since people do frivolously judge you by your appearance rather than your real worth, do not think it useless to give society a goodimpression of yourself by wearing decent clothes: 98. Đ ói trong ru ộ t không ai bi ế t Rách ngoài c ậ t l ắ m k ẻ hay. Outwardly, hunger is unknown But ragged clothes are easily seen .Foster useful relations: 99. Bán anh em xa Mua láng gi ề ng g ầ n. Neglect your far-off brothers if necessary And care for your close-by neighbours. Do not give in to vanity: 100. Đượ c ti ế ng khen Ho hen ch ẳ ng còn. He who wants to be praised Often loses his breath. Perseverance is good, but not stubborness over an obvious mistake: 101. Già néo đứ t giây. A rope fastened too tightly will snap. 102. Già kén k ẹ n hom. A too careful choice sometimes ends badly. (Girls who want to select too carefully a perfect husband run the risk of marrying a worthless one in the end)A good reputation being the best way to success, maintain itcarefully under any circumstance: 103. Mua danh ba v ạ n Bán danh ba đồ ng. Reputation is bought with 30,000 coins - 26 - And sold for only three. Finally, if money is needed to enjoy life, it is absurd to keep it at therisk of losing one’s life. If needed, one must give up money to saveone’s life: 104. M ộ t m ặ t ng ườ i, m ườ i m ặ t c ủ a . Life is worth ten times more than wealth. 105. Ng ườ i làm nên c ủ aC ủ a không làm nên ng ườ i .Man makes money Never does money make man. (a counsel given to people, sick or engaged in lawsuits, whohesitate spending money to recover their health or freedom). Doubtful Moral Precepts. An overview of the psychology of our folk people will be found atthe end of the book. For now, let me just point out without any foregoneconclusion that the concerns of the common people are keenly differentfrom those of the scholars. Whereas the latter enjoyed praising heroism: Ki ế n ngh ĩ a b ấ t vi vô d ũ ng dã. He is a coward who comes upon an opportunity to fulfill his duties and fails to do them. Or brotherhood: T ứ h ả i giai huynh đệ . Within four seas, all men are brothers. the common man was less enthusiatic about those transcendental virtues.Readily he advocates selfishness: 106. Ă n c ỗ đ i tr ướ c, L ộ i n ướ c đ i sau. To attend a banquet, go first;To ford a river, go behind. 107. Ă n tìm đế n Đ ánh nhau tìm đ i . - 27 - Go where there is feasting Run away from where there is fighting. 108. Cái ách gi ữ a đ àng Mang quàng vào c ổ . A ticklish affair encountered on the road Don’t be so silly as to take it upon yourself. 109. Ă n no n ằ m ng ủ Ch ớ b ầ u ch ủ mà lo. Eat well and sleep well Never warrant another’s debt. 110. Cháy nhà hàng xóm B ằ ng chân nh ư v ạ i . If there is a fire in your neighbour’s houseStay at home. The common man also appreciates laziness: 111. L ắ m thóc nh ọ c xay. Much paddy, much tiresome grinding. Opportunism: 112. Đ i n ướ c Lào ă n m ắ m ngóe. When traveling in Laos, eat frog’s pickle. (rightly or wrongly, that is considered as a Laotian national dish). 113. Đ i v ớ i B ụ t m ặ c áo cà sa Đ i v ớ i ma m ặ c áo gi ấ y. In the company of Buddha, wear a cassock; In the company of ghosts, wear paper clothes .(Ghosts: fearsome people. When the cult of ancestors is celebrated,ghosts are usually offered paper clothes which will be burnt.) 114. Gió chi ề u nào che chi ề u ấ y .Take shelter according to the wind’s direction. - 28 - 115. Nh ậ p gia tùy t ụ c Đ áo giang tùy khúc. When visiting a family, observe its customs.When sailing along a river, follow its meanderings. Cynism: 116. C ườ i ba tháng, ai c ườ i ba n ă m? Let them laugh at you for three months, nobody will do it after three years. 117. Ai c ườ i h ở m ườ i cái r ă ng . He who laughs show his teeth. (He only wrongs himself)
115. Nh ậ p gia tùy t ụ c Đ áo giang tùy khúc. When visiting a family, observe its customs.When sailing along a river, follow its meanderings. Cynism: 116. C ườ i ba tháng, ai c ườ i ba n ă m? Let them laugh at you for three months, nobody will do it after three years. 117. Ai c ườ i h ở m ườ i cái r ă ng . He who laughs show his teeth. (He only wrongs himself)
CHAPTER I I PSYCHOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. T he Vietnamese, who is fairly shrewd, looks at himself, others, andsocial regulations, with eyes so very keen and so realistic as to becomematerialistic. We will notice that most of these psychologicalobservations implicitly include a precept of utilitarian morals. Thefollowing proverb warding against vanity: Đượ c ti ế ng khen Ho hen ch ẳ ng còn. He who wants to be praised Often loses his breath. may be considered as an observation as well as an advice.As such, the greatest difficulty in studying the psychologicalobservations is their great number and their infinitely varied gist whichtouches on all topics. The following classification, though not the best, issimple:1. human nature;2. relations between members of a community;3. human vices;4. social regulations. 1. Human Nature Living in a very simple world where the essential preoccupationsare agricultural works, peace in the family and the hamlet, the commonVietnamese cannot be a very subtle psychologist. However, his soundmind helps him to find out the great laws of human nature.First, he is convinced that Reason works in the same way for allmen, that what pleases or displeases one also pleases or displeasesothers
18. Suy b ụ ng ta ra b ụ ng ng ườ i. From our own conclusions, we can deduce others’ . 119. B ụ ng trâu làm sao, b ụ ng bò làm v ậ y. As the buffalo feels, so feels the cow .The folk Vietnamese also learns that opinions are often tainted withsubjectivity: 120. Yêu nên t ố t, ghét nên x ấ u. What is loved is good, what is hated is ugly .that it is useless to try to satisfy everybody: 121. Ai u ố n câu cho v ừ a mi ệ ng cá. Who can curve the hook to fit every fish’s mouth? that our feelings are often fickle: 122. Có m ớ i n ớ i c ũ . A newly acquired thing makes one forget the old. 123. Yêu nhau l ắ m, c ắ n nhau đ au. The more they love each other, the more they hate each other afterwards. 124. Đứ ng núi này trông núi n ọ .Standing on the top of a mountain, we look at another.(The grass is greener beyond the fence ) 125. Đượ c voi đ òi tiên. He who has an elephant covets a fairy .that misfortune brings in compassion: 126. Ă n nh ạ t m ớ i bi ế t th ươ ng mèo. In fasting we learn to pity cats. (which are fond of fish, but are often fed with rice only).that finally, necessity compels men to do acts of which their reason
2. Relations Between Members Of A Communitya/ Parents and Children.To the Vietnamese people, whose principal religion is the cult of ancestors, having children is a duty that only monks may be exemptfrom: B ấ t hi ế u h ữ u tam, vô h ậ u vi đạ i. Among the three crimes of filial impiety,The greatest is to die without descendants .What may be the reasons for such concern? Economic, not to havethe familial patrimony be divided? Political, to constitute a powerfulnation with a large population? Religious, so that the ancestors’ soulswould not wander around in the Dead kingdom? Whatever the reason, birth control was and is not going to be welcomed in Vietnam. 128. Có con t ộ i s ố ng Không con t ộ i ch ế t. To have children is a torment in life (on account of worries they give) But without them, it is a torture after death. (because nobody will celebrate your cult). 129. Tr ẻ c ậ y chaGià c ậ y con. The young rely on their father;The old rely on their children. 130. Tre già m ă ng m ọ c .When the bamboo gets old, bamboo shoots appear .As stressed earlier, Vietnamese parents did not show their childrenthe excessive affection the Western people give theirs (whichincidentally is going into our modern customs). However, their
However, their paternalor maternal love was no less strong: 131. Con vua vua d ấ u - 32 - Con chúa chúa yêu. The king loves his children And the prince loves his. 132. Con đầ u cháu s ớ m. (Are particularly cherished) The first child and the first grandchild. 133. N ướ c m ắ t ch ẩ y suôi. Tears run down. (Loves goes from parents to children,and rarely in the opposite direction.) 134. Hùm d ữ ch ẳ ng n ỡ ă n th ị t con. Even the ferocious tiger does not devour its c
cubs. (parents could not help forgiving their prodigal children ) 135. Ch ế t cha ă n c ơ m v ớ i cáCh ế t m ẹ lá li ế m đầ u đườ ng. The fatherless child has fish to eat with riceThe motherless one must lick leaves on the roads. (maternal love is greater than paternal love)Sons are preferred to daughters, because only they can celebrate thecult of ancestors: 136. M ộ t trai là có M ườ i gái là không. A son is valuableTen daughters are worthless. Conversely, the children generally cared piously for their old parents, even and especially if the latter were poor: 137. Con không chê cha m ẹ khóChó không chê ch ủ nhà nghèo. Children do not complain about their poor parents Dogs do not complain about their poor masters.The keen observer may nevertheless note that filial piety did notgenerally equal paternal love; it is a law of human nature. 138. Cha m ẹ nuôi con b ằ ng tr ờ i b ằ ng b ể Con nuôi cha m ẹ con k ể t ừ ng ngày. As immense as sky and ocean, are the cares given by parents to their children But the latter count every care they give their parents. b/ Husband and wife:Although generally arranged by their parents and not by the married persons themselves, Vietnamese marriages were mostly happy. Lovewas not necessarily missing, and in its place, reciprocal esteem andconsciousness of one’s duties could constitute a stronger basis: 139. Thu ậ n v ợ thu ậ n ch ồ ng Tát b ể Đ ông c ũ ng c ạ n. When husband and wife agree with each other They may drain off the Eastern sea. 140. C ơ m ch ẳ ng lànhCanh ch ẳ ng ng ọ t. Rice is never well cooked by an unhappy couple Nor the soup well seasoned. 141. Th ứ nh ấ t v ợ d ạ i trong nhàTh ứ hai nhà d ộ t, th ứ ba n ợ đ òi. The worst troubles are: first, to have a silly wife,Secondly, to live under a leaking roof, and thirdly, to be in debt. 142. Ch ồ ng ă n ch ả V ợ ă n nem. The husband eats pies And the wife enjoys hash
150. V ắ ng chúa nhàGà v ọ c niêu tôm. When the master is away, Hens dabble in the shrimp-pot. 3. Human Vices The Vietnamese are by nature teasers. Historically, we may interpretthat tendency as a weapon of the oppressed, because our people wasincessantly oppressed, either administratively by the mandarins, inaddition to Chinese and French governors, or economically by landlordsand usurers. Songs and tales presented later will amply illustrate this peculiarity of the Vietnamese spirit
- 36 - In the proverbs, human vices were subject to much scoffing. To geta clear idea, we will classify them into two categories:The vices stemming from foolishness: vanity, boasting, conceit,snobbishness, laziness, and the more serious forms stemming fromwickedness: hypocrisy, cynicism, slander, selfishness and ingratitude. a/ Stupidity and its various aspects.It is the defect which the Vietnamese peasant, rival of the Danube peasant, most readily mocked at. Here are some portraits of the stupidman: 151. C ắ n c ơ m không v ỡ . He doesn’t know how to chew rice. 152. Đơ m đ ó ng ọ n tre. He puts his nets at the top of the bamboos.(instead of along the stream) 153. B ị t m ắ t b ắ t chim .With bandaged eyes, he hopes to catch birds. 154. Khôn nhà d ạ i ch ợ . Wise at home, he is silly in the market. The vain fellow: 155. Con nhà línhTính nhà quan. Son of a soldier He behaves like a mandarin’s son. 156. Húng m ọ c, tía tô c ũ ng m ọ c. The wild vegetable vies with the mint in growing
157. Nói ba voi không đượ c bát n ướ c sáo. - 37 - He promised three elephants out of which, he could not even makea bowl of meat. 158. Nói m ộ t t ấ c đế n tr ờ i. His boastings are an inch near the sky. 159. Trong đ om đ óm, ngoài bó đ u ố c. Inside, it’s only a glow-worm light Outside, it seems as bright as a
a torch. The conceited: 160. Đ ánh tr ố ng qua c ử a nhà s ấ m . He beats the drum in front of the thunder house. 161. Múa rìu qua m ắ t th ợ . He flourishes the plane before the master carpenter. 162. Đũ a m ố c chòi mâm son. Mouldy chopsticks dare lift up to a lackered tray. 163. Ă n mày đ òi sôi g ấ c. The beggar asks for sticky rice stewed with red tint. The snob: 164. B ụ t nhà không thiêng l ạ i đ i c ầ u Thích Cangoài đườ ng. He disregards his home’s Buddha to worship another in the street. 165. Gánh vàng đ i đổ sông Ngô. He carries gold to throw it into the Chinese river. - 38 - 167. Chó chê mèo l ắ m lông .The dog criticizes the cat for its excessive fur.( actually, both are equally furry ) 168. Vi ệ c ng ườ i thì sáng Vi ệ c nhà thì quáng. Very shrewd on others’ affairs He is blind to his own. The lazy:The Vietnamese people, mostly poor, must work hard to earn their living. So, the lazy one who depends upon others for his living isdespised everywhere. 169. Há mi ệ ng ch ờ sung. He opens his mouth, waiting for the sycamore fruits to fall into it. 170. Ă n nh ư thuy ề n ch ở mã Làm nh ư ả ch ơ i tr ă ng When he eats, you would say a boat loaded with votive paper (in large quantities, because of its lightness) But when he works, he looks like a lady strolling under moonlight.(i.e. slothfully) 171. Ng ườ i gi ầ u tham vi ệ cTh ấ t nghi ệ p tham ă n .The wealthy likes to work The idler thinks only of eating. b/ Wickedness and its various aspects
The hypocrite and the cynic:If smooth talk is highly esteemed by the scholars, it is despised bythe more forthright common people. Here is how the hypocrite is seen: 172. Mi ệ ng th ơ n th ớ t - 39 - D ạ ớ t ngâm . His mouth is sweet But his heart is pickled with hot peppers. 173. Th ươ ng mi ệ ng th ươ ng môi Th ươ ng mi ế ng sôi mi ế ng th ị t. His condoleances start only from his lips And aim at the meat and rice (of the funeral banquet).At the opposite end, cynicism is no less unpleasant. As much as thecommon people hate false virtue, they also mistrust he who offends itscurrilously: 174. C ố đấ m ă n sôi. He puts up with anything to get some steamed rice .The slander:Of simple and gentle nature, the common people avoid carefullyslander, this plague of sophisticated societies: 175. L ưỡ i không x ươ ng nhi ề u đườ ng l ắ t léo .The boneless tongue has many tortuous ways. 176. L ưỡ i m ề m độ c quá đ uôi ong. The soft tongue is more dangerous than the bee’s sting. The selfish:We knew that, by prudence, the common Vietnamese is readilyselfish. Nevertheless, he is disgusted with vice’s ugliness when he sees itin others: 177. Ch ư a qua c ầ u đ ã c ấ t d ị p . As soon as he crossed the bridge, he took its spans off. 178. Gi ầ u đ i ế c sang đ ui. The wealthy are deaf and the noble are blind. The ungrateful:Ingratitude most shocks the common people who cannotunderstand this meanness:
- 40 - 179. Ă n cháo đ ái bát. He urinates into the bowl from which he just ate soup. 180. Ă n sung ng ồ i g ố c cây sung Ă n r ồ i l ạ i ném t ứ tung ng ũ hoành. He sits at 179. Ă n cháo đ ái bát. He urinates into the bowl from which he just ate soup. 180. Ă n sung ng ồ i g ố c cây sung Ă n r ồ i l ạ i ném t ứ tung ng ũ hoành. He sits at the foot of a sycamore And throws all around its fruits he just ate. 181. Có bát s ứ tình ph ụ bát đ àn . As soon as he gets a chinaware bowl, he disregards theearthenware one. 182. Đượ c chim b ẻ ná Đượ c cá quên n ơ m. When the bird is shot, he shatters his cross-bowWhen the fish is caught, he forgets his fish tackle. 183. Kh ỏ i rên quên th ầ y. He forgets the physician as soon as he recovers his health
4. Social Regulations
How does the common Vietnamese see the world? Does he find itwell ruled, in accordance with the moral precepts taught by the wisemasters? Is virtue always rewarded and wickedness punished? Beforethis great question, at the same time metaphysical and practical, thecommon Vietnamese adopts three attitudes. Imbued with Confucianistand Buddhist teaching, he believes in the law of causation: There isimminent justice because good must come from good and evil from evil.But he is not so foolish as not to be aware that the struggle for life isfierce, that success goes sometimes to the bold, cunning and rich people,and not always to the virtuous one. And last, he may always take refugein the philosophy of the meek, i. e. to comfort himself by stating thatfortune is fleeting and perilous. a/ Law of causation:
4. Social Regulations
How does the common Vietnamese see the world? Does he find itwell ruled, in accordance with the moral precepts taught by the wisemasters? Is virtue always rewarded and wickedness punished? Beforethis great question, at the same time metaphysical and practical, thecommon Vietnamese adopts three attitudes. Imbued with Confucianistand Buddhist teaching, he believes in the law of causation: There isimminent justice because good must come from good and evil from evil.But he is not so foolish as not to be aware that the struggle for life isfierce, that success goes sometimes to the bold, cunning and rich people,and not always to the virtuous one. And last, he may always take refugein the philosophy of the meek, i. e. to comfort himself by stating thatfortune is fleeting and perilous. a/ Law of causation:
Its generality: 184. Ă n m ặ n khát n ướ c. Salty food brings in thirst. 185. Cây th ẳ ng bóng ngayCây nghiêng bóng v ạ y . A straight tree gives straight shade A tortuous tree gives tortuous shade. Its application to heredity: 186. Con nhà tông ch ẳ ng gi ố ng lông c ũ ng gi ố ng cánh .Children from a good family always take after their ancestors,either by their feather or by their wings. (a valuable man is compared to a bird who darts up the sky). 187. Rau nào sâu ấ y. For each kind of vegetable, there is a particular worm. Its application to virtue and vice: 188. Ác gi ả ác báo . The wicked will encounter wickedness . 189. Ở hi ề n g ậ p lành . The virtuous will meet happiness. 190. Đườ ng đ i hay t ố Nói d ố i hay cùng. A long travel will end in darkness A liar in the long run will contradict himself. 191. Khôn ngoan ch ẳ ng đọ th ậ t thà. Cleverness cannot equal sincerity. 192. Th ậ t thà là cha qu ỷ quái. Sincerity defeats trickery. 193. C ủ a làm ra để trên gác - 42 - C ủ a c ờ b ạ c để ngoài sânC ủ a phù vân để ngoài ngõ. Wealth earned by work is safe at homeThat earned by gambling stays in the yard Ephemeral acquisitions lie outdoors. b/ Struggle for lifeFirst secure your living: 194. Có th ự c m ớ i v ự c đượ c đạ o .Virtue cannot dwell with starvation. Force defeats right: 195. Cá l ớ n nu ố t cá bé. Big fish devour little ones . 196. C ả vú l ấ p mi ệ ng em. A big breast covers the child’s mouth. But one can replace brutal force by cleverness or flexibility: 197. L ạ t m ề m bu ộ c ch ặ t. Supple thongs bind tightly. 198. Ng ọ t l ọ t đế n x ươ ng. Sweet words go through bones .People are weak when, but may become a great force bygathering together: 199. Góp gió thành bão. Many winds make a storm. 200. Chúng kh ẩ u đồ ng t ừ Ông S ư c ũ ng ch ế t. When all people express the same opinion Even the monk must die. (even a man as virtuous as the monk cannot avoid the sentence
- 42 - C ủ a c ờ b ạ c để ngoài sânC ủ a phù vân để ngoài ngõ. Wealth earned by work is safe at homeThat earned by gambling stays in the yard Ephemeral acquisitions lie outdoors. b/ Struggle for lifeFirst secure your living: 194. Có th ự c m ớ i v ự c đượ c đạ o .Virtue cannot d - 42 - C ủ a c ờ b ạ c để ngoài sânC ủ a phù vân để ngoài ngõ. Wealth earned by work is safe at homeThat earned by gambling stays in the yard Ephemeral acquisitions lie outdoors. b/ Struggle for lifeFirst secure your living: 194. Có th ự c m ớ i v ự c đượ c đạ o .Virtue cannot dwell with starvation. Force defeats right: 195. Cá l ớ n nu ố t cá bé. Big fish devour little ones . 196. C ả vú l ấ p mi ệ ng em. A big breast covers the child’s mouth. But one can replace brutal force by cleverness or flexibility: 197. L ạ t m ề m bu ộ c ch ặ t. Supple thongs bind tightly. 198. Ng ọ t l ọ t đế n x ươ ng. Sweet words go thro
hrough bones .People are weak when, but may become a great force bygathering together: 199. Góp gió thành bão. Many winds make a storm. 200. Chúng kh ẩ u đồ ng t ừ Ông S ư c ũ ng ch ế t. When all people express the same opinion Even the monk must die. (even a man as virtuous as the monk cannot avoid the sentence.
hrough bones .People are weak when, but may become a great force bygathering together: 199. Góp gió thành bão. Many winds make a storm. 200. Chúng kh ẩ u đồ ng t ừ Ông S ư c ũ ng ch ế t. When all people express the same opinion Even the monk must die. (even a man as virtuous as the monk cannot avoid the sentence.
imposed upon him by a fanatic crowd) Nevertheless, if a crowd is strong by its mass, it usually does not actwisely, because it is irresponsible, and everybody often means nobody: 201. L ắ m sãi không ai đ óng c ử a chùa . A pagoda with several monks has its doors watched by no one. 202. Cha chung không ai khóc. No child bewails over a common father. 203. L ắ m th ầ y th ố i ma. With several witches, the corpse risks putrefaction. (because they cannot agree on the funeral’s date ).In an organized society, the most fearsome power is not the one pertaining to force, but to money: 204. M ạ nh v ề g ạ o B ạ o v ề ti ề n .Strength is due to rice Boldness to money. 205. Nén b ạ c đ âm to ạ c t ờ gi ấ y . A bar of silver tears up the sheet of paper. (moneys perverts judgement) 206. No nên b ụ t Đ ói nên ma .Surfeited, one behaves like BuddhaStarved, one becomes a demon. 207. Cái khó bó cái khôn. Poverty binds wisdom
Therefore, in such a society ruled by strength, cleverness or money,the weak people are beaten beforehand: 208. Chó c ắ n áo rách. The dog barks after ragged clothes. - 44 - 209. Nh ờ gió b ẻ m ă ng. While the wind is blowing, thieves break the bamboo shoots. 210. D ậ u đổ bìm bìm leo. Once the fence is fallen, the bindweed climbs up. 211. M ề m n ắ n r ắ n buông. The soft are seized, the hard are released. 212. Khó gi ữ đầ uGi ầ u gi ữ c ủ a. The poor guard their headsThe rich guard their wealt
c/ The philosophy of the weak peopleIn the awful gearing of that society, are the weak people to beinevitably and forever crushed? Fortunately not. Because the laws for which they hope in their grimmest hours of distress are working.Law of vicissitude: 213. Sông có khúc Ng ườ i có lúc. Each river has its meanderings Everyone has his ups and downs. 214. Ai gi ầ u ba h ọ Ai khó ba đờ i. Nobody’s three families are all wealthy No family remains poor for three generations. (everyone’s three families are: his father’s, his mother’s and hiswife’s) 215. Ai n ắ m tay đế n t ố i? Ai g ố i tay đế n sáng ?Who can clinch his fist till night? - 45 - Who can rest his head on his elbow till morning? 216. C ườ i ng ườ i ch ớ có c ườ i lâuC ườ i ng ườ i hôm tr ướ c hôm sau ng ườ i c ườ i . Don’t laugh at anybody For he who is laughing today will be laughed at t
t tomorrow. 217. M ư a ch ẳ ng qua ng ọ Gió ch ẳ ng qua mùi . Rain won’t pour beyond noon.Gusty wind won’t blow beyond 2 p.m. Law of compensation: 218. Trèo cao ngã đ au .The higher one climbs, the more painful the downfall. 219. L ớ n ng ườ i to cái ngã. Big stature, heavy downfall. 220. To đầ u khó chui. Big heads have difficulty creeping into anywhere. 221. Ă n c ơ m v ớ i cáy thì ngáy o o. Ă n c ơ m th ị t bò thì lo ngay ngáy. Crab eaters peacefully snore Beef eaters are continually anxious. 222. Voi ch ế t vì ngà, chim ch ế t vì lông. Elephants die for their ivory Birds for their feathers. It is therefore concluded that to live happy, we should live inseclusion. And if we remain unhappy, comfort ourselves that such is our fate: 223. Gi ầ u t ạ i ph ậ n, khó t ạ i duyê
Therefore, in such a society ruled by strength, cleverness or money,the weak people are beaten beforehand: 208. Chó c ắ n áo rách. The dog barks after ragged clothes. - 44 - 209. Nh ờ gió b ẻ m ă ng. While the wind is blowing, thieves break the bamboo shoots. 210. D ậ u đổ bìm bìm leo. Once the fence is fallen, the bindweed climbs up. 211. M ề m n ắ n r ắ n buông. The soft are seized, the hard are released. 212. Khó gi ữ đầ uGi ầ u gi ữ c ủ a. The poor guard their headsThe rich guard their wealt
c/ The philosophy of the weak peopleIn the awful gearing of that society, are the weak people to beinevitably and forever crushed? Fortunately not. Because the laws for which they hope in their grimmest hours of distress are working.Law of vicissitude: 213. Sông có khúc Ng ườ i có lúc. Each river has its meanderings Everyone has his ups and downs. 214. Ai gi ầ u ba h ọ Ai khó ba đờ i. Nobody’s three families are all wealthy No family remains poor for three generations. (everyone’s three families are: his father’s, his mother’s and hiswife’s) 215. Ai n ắ m tay đế n t ố i? Ai g ố i tay đế n sáng ?Who can clinch his fist till night? - 45 - Who can rest his head on his elbow till morning? 216. C ườ i ng ườ i ch ớ có c ườ i lâuC ườ i ng ườ i hôm tr ướ c hôm sau ng ườ i c ườ i . Don’t laugh at anybody For he who is laughing today will be laughed at t
t tomorrow. 217. M ư a ch ẳ ng qua ng ọ Gió ch ẳ ng qua mùi . Rain won’t pour beyond noon.Gusty wind won’t blow beyond 2 p.m. Law of compensation: 218. Trèo cao ngã đ au .The higher one climbs, the more painful the downfall. 219. L ớ n ng ườ i to cái ngã. Big stature, heavy downfall. 220. To đầ u khó chui. Big heads have difficulty creeping into anywhere. 221. Ă n c ơ m v ớ i cáy thì ngáy o o. Ă n c ơ m th ị t bò thì lo ngay ngáy. Crab eaters peacefully snore Beef eaters are continually anxious. 222. Voi ch ế t vì ngà, chim ch ế t vì lông. Elephants die for their ivory Birds for their feathers. It is therefore concluded that to live happy, we should live inseclusion. And if we remain unhappy, comfort ourselves that such is our fate: 223. Gi ầ u t ạ i ph ậ n, khó t ạ i duyê
n. Wealth and poverty are settled by fate. - 46 - Fatalism goes even further. Since our fate is arranged by Heaven.Heaven will not let us starve: 224. Tr ờ i sinh tr ờ i d ưỡ ng. Heaven gives life, He also takes care of it. 225. Tr ờ i sinh voi, Tr ờ i sinh c ỏ . Heaven who creates elephants also creates grass
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