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Updated 4mo ago
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View this proverb in Swahili
Kile kinachozunguka huja karibu
This proverb means that we often get treated the same way we treat others. It is usually negatively, as a warning, or when a person who acted immorally gets their comeuppance. It could also be used as a promise of blessings to those who do good.  A third possible meaning is that Often compared to the Hindu doctrine of karma, the exact origin of the proverb is uncertain, but it seems to have emerged in the US in middle of the last century.

Related proverbs and quotes:
Shakespeare 
We still have judgment here; that we but teach
Bloody instructions, which, being taught, return
To plague the inventor: this even-handed justice
Commends the ingredients of our poison'd chalice
To our own lips.  (Macbeth Act I, Scene 7
Bible:
As you sow, so shall you reap (Galatians 6:7)
Chinese:
善有善報,惡有惡報
Good is rewarded with good, and evil with evil.
German
Wie man in den Wald hineinruft, so schallt es heraus
What you shout into the forest, will echo out again

Sources
Wiktionary
Image from 1918 drawing depicting German aggression.  
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Meaning 


In this proverb, the sword signifies force and violence, and the pen stands for words. While the sword can conquer with force, the pen can persuade, inspire, enlighten and motivate people. Not everyone has weapons to force other people to do what they want, but everyone has the power to influence the world through what they think, say and write with words.

Silaha za siku hizi ni kalamu na karatasi.
Today's weapons are pen and paper.
 - Swahili proverb

Part of the reason this proverb is true is that words often motivate and regulate how people use violence and force. For example, through law, the words of leaders, judges and juries have the power to jail people or even kill them. Making a fiery speech to an angry mob might cause a violent riot (see Julius Caesar). 

You furnish the pictures and I'll furnish the war.
- William Randolph Hearst

The proverb also reminds us of the power of nonviolent resistance to bring about lasting political change, a principle advocated and demonstrated by figures like Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, and Nelson Mandela. (Check out Henry David Thoreau's classic Essay, "Civil Disobedience" and Sophocles famous play, "Antigone")

Origin


The phrase "the pen is mightier than the sword" became popular after Edward Bulwer-Lytton used it in his 1839 play "Richelieu: Or the Conspiracy" (page 47).  But the idea likely originated much earlier.

Some sources attribute the proverb to the Story of Ahikar (which is also the source of the proverb "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush"). In this edition, the translator was unable to decipher the damaged manuscript and left the sentence unfinished. (Page 171/274
(FRAGMENTS)
Watch carefully over thy mouth ...... and make thy heart slow(?), for the word spoken is like a bird, and he who utters it is like a man without ...
... the craft of the mouth is mightier than the craft of ...... 
Could this be the original source of the proverb from over 2500 years ago? You be the judge...

A similar phrase also appears in the Old Testament: 
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword.
Hebrews 4:12 (KJV)

And in Shakespeare:
 Many wearing rapiers are afraid of goosequills.
-William Shakespeare Hamlet Act 2, scene II (page 59)

Do you agree that the pen is mightier than the sword? Share your opinions below!

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Updated 4mo ago
by
The winner of a competition or conflict receives the majority or entirety of the rewards, and possibly additional benefits beyond what was being fought over. 

In war, the spoils could refer to land, gained power or other sought after resources. In other pursuits the spoils typically refer to accolades, money or opportunities.

The proverb is typically used to explain unequal outcomes or to remind others that the stakes of many conflicts are winner take all, zero sum, or at the very least, disproportionately favorable to the few winners.

Check out the sources section for a description of the context and information about the US politician who was credited with the phrase (in the 1830s).
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Updated 4mo ago
by
"na Ibrahim Nyanda
🏆 Shindano la Insha ya Methali
“Ni kwa nini kijiji chetu hakina maendeleo ukilinganisha na vijiji vingine vinavyotuzunguka? Vijana wengi kutoka vijiji vingine wa umri wetu wamesoma na wengine wana kazi zao za maana huko mjini. Pamoja na kwamba kuna shule kijijini kwetu lakini vijana hatufanyi vizuri shuleni na hata walimu wanapoajiriwa hawakai muda mrefu wanahama. Kuna nini hapa Bombambili?" Haya ni maswali ambayo kijana Akilimali alimwuliza rafiki yake Manase wakiwa machungani wakilisha ng’ombe. 

Mara baada ya swali hili Manase alionekana amezama katika wimbi kubwa la mawazo na mara baada ya kufikiri kwa muda alimgeukia rafiki yake Akilimali na kumtazama kwa kina kiaha akamwuliza, “Unaamini kuhusu ushirikina” Akilimali alijibu kwa kutikisa kichwa kuashiria kukubaliana na swali aliloulizwa na kisha akasema “Naamini kwani mara kadhaa nimekua nikiona watu wakienda kwa waganga na wengine wanapopitia magumu huamini wamerogwa, si unakumbuka juzi bibi Andunje tulivyoambiwa kuwa amekutwa juu ya paa la mzee Masanja uchi wa mnyama akiwanga, sasa mpaka hapo naachaje kuamini mshikaji wangu” 

Manase alimwangalia Akilimali kwa makini kisha akamwambia, "Nataka nikueleze siri moja ambayo huwezi amini……. hivi unajua kama mama yako na dada yako ni wachawi?” Akilimali alibaki ameduwaa mithili ya mjusi aloyebanwa na mlango halafu akiwa amefura kwa hasira akamwambia Manase “Aisee mwanangu usianze kuniletea habari zako za udwanzi hapa, tena koma kabisa kumwambia mama yangu mchawi vinginevyo ntakuja kukufanyia kitu mbaya hutokuja kuamini macho yako, ohoooo!!” 

Manase alimtuliza rafiki ake Akilimali halafu akamwambia, “Ngoja niwarudishe ng’ombe jirani afu nikupe mchapo mzima ulivyo, najua utanielewa we punguza jaziba kwanza” 

Mara baada ya kurudisha mifugo jirani Manase akaanza kumweleza Akilimali, “Rafiki angu nataka nikupe siri hii ambayo nimekaa nayo kwa muda mrefu, chochote unachokiona hapa hata kutokuwepo kwa naendeleo kijijini ni kwa sababu ya ushirikina, kila siku mama yako na dada yako huwa ninawaona wakija nyumbani wamepanda fisi wakimpitia mama kwenda kuwanga…..” Manase alitulia kidogo halafu akaendelea 

“Huwezi kuamini kwani hata mimj nilikua siamini mpaka nilipopakwa dawa na kuwaona, nitakupa hiyo dawa utapaka machoni na utakuja kunipa majibu kesho.” 

Mara baada ya mlo wa usiku Akilimali alikua ameketi akiota moto nje ya nyumba yao ya udongo iliyoezekwa kwa nyasi wakati huo mama yake na dada yake wakiwa ndani na yeye akiwa na baba yake pale nje. Alipaka ile dawa kama alivyoelekezwa na baada ya dakika kumi alimwona dada yake na mama yake wamepanda juu ya fisi mithili ya pikipiki tayari kwa safari ya kwenda kuwanga. 

“Nisamehe sana rafiki angu, ilikua ni hasira tu” aliongea maneno haya Akilimali huku akilengwa na machozi, 

“Mimi nilijua, sasa unavyoona kijijj chetu hakiendelei hata mama yako pia na dada yako wanahusika, inaumiza sana kila mwanakijiji anayetaka kuleta maendeleo anaishia kufa, lazima kuna siku watakuja kuumbuka kama ilivyokua kwa bibi Andunje” 

“Nina uhakika hata baba yako hajui kama mama yako na dada yako ni wachawi na kila siku huwa wanaenda kuwanga na ninyi kuwaachia mauzauza mkijua wapo, nenda kampake baba yako hiyo dawa alafu utanipa majibu” alieleza Manase 

Jioni kwa siri Akilimali alimweleza baba yake kuwa dada yake na mama yake ni wachawi kitu ambacho alipinga vikali. 

“Mama leo baba anatuona, angalia anvyotutumbulia macho” dada yake na Akilimali alimwabia mama yake wakiwa juu ya fisi kama ilivyo ada wakati baba yake na kaka yake wakiwa nje wanaota moto kama ilivyo kawaida yao. 

“Sidhani kama anatuona, hebu geuza fisi tuwe kama tunawaelekea wao” ailisema mana yake na Akilimali.

Akilimali anasema hiyo ndiyo ilikua siku ya mwisho kumwona baba yake kwani baada ya kuona fisi aliyewabeba mke wake na binti yake alitimua mbio kama anashundana mashindano ya mbio za mita mia. Ama kweli usilolijua ni kama usiku wa giza, Akilimali alibaki haamini kama kwa muda wote huo ameishi na mama yake na dada yake bila kujua kuwa ni wachawi. 
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Widespread economic prosperity typically reaches all citizens of a country or region. A country cannot benefit without all of its citizens somehow benefitting, in the same way that an incoming tide will lift all boats including both the behemoth cruise ships and the tiny canoes.

Occasionally, the adage also may be used when referring to entire groups benefitting from a change in circumstances, particularly an influx of resources that seemingly might reach only individuals. I have heard co-workers respond to their co-workers receiving large sales commissions by saying, "a rising tide lifts all boats," implying that the increase in business for the company will expand the total opportunities for the company (and thus all employees). In this use case, clearly it is understood that the "rising tide" does not lift all boats equally.

Critics of this proverb may dispute its veracity claiming the phrase is erroneously used to justify any type of deal or arrangement that seems to benefit the few, but typically the expression is used with optimism or as a form of mild celebration by leaders, or members of the group themselves.

The proverb is often attributed to John F. Kennedy after he used it in a 1963 speech disputing the claim that a dam construction project had too much pork (wasteful spending). Kennedy's speechwriter (Ted Sorensen) revealed that the New England Council originally used the phrase, which Kennedy borrowed regularly.

A similar phrase is "to grow the pie," which means to make the entire set of opportunities greater, presumably so that everyone can appreciate a larger piece of pie, even if their percentage of the pie does not change.

Do you share the sentiment that broad economic prosperity reaches all?
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Updated 4mo ago
by