Have you ever noticed that time seems to pass more slowly when you are waiting for something? On the other hand, if you distract yourself with other engaging activities, time goes by quickly.

For example, if you're in a waiting room for a doctor, the wait will seem shorter if you check your phone or read a magazine, rather than just waiting for your name being called.

This proverb was attributed by Benjamin Franklin to Poor Richard's Almanac, however it doesn't actually appear there. Instead, Franklin used it in an essay on animal magnetism in 1785.

Have you ever seen a blacksmith at work? Or maybe an artisan shaping hot glass? It's pretty incredible to watch, right? (If not, visit Shanga Foundation in Arusha or check out video links below)
In our everyday experience, glass is hard, brittle and breakable, but glass is actually made by melting sand and shaping it like liquid.

Some things in life seem unchangeable; they just will not bend. If we use all our strength, they only shatter in our hands and hurt us. But a skillful craftsman can make brittle things soft and malleable by preparing them appropriately, and taking decisive action at the right moment.

This proverb is often used to mean that you should take action quickly when an opportunity arises, so that you don't miss it. See also: There is a tide

However, it's worth noting that in the play, this advice has pretty bad consequences for Brutus, who didn't exactly sail on to fortune after this speech (read more...)

Many cultures and languages have a proverb that is very similar to "Strike while the iron is hot." It seems likely that the proverb has multiple independent origins.

Hapo zamani za kale, palikuwa na binti mrembo, mkarimu, mwenye akili aliyeitwa Poshia. Wanaume wengi walitaka kumuoa na walikuja ili kuomba uchumba. Baba Poshia alikuwa amefariki dunia. Alikuwa tajiri na aliacha wosia ulioelekeza kamba yeyote aliyetaka kumuoa Poshia, lazima achague kati ya masanduku tatu: sanduku la dhahabu, sanduku la fedha na sanduku la risasi. Atakayechagua sahihi ndiye atakayeruhusiwa kumuoa Poshiia na kurithi mali zote za Baba Poshia. Siku moja, Mfalme wa Moroko alikuja ili kuomba uchumba.

na William Shakespeare
Mfasiri: Mwalimu Nyerere  

POSHIA: Kayavute mapazia masanduku yaonekane kwake mtukufu huyu mtoto wa mfalme. Haya sasa kachague.

MOROKO: La kwanza, ni la dhahabu, lenye maandiko haya:

Na la pili, ni la fedha, linaloahidi hivi: 

La, tatu, risasi butu, na onyo lake ni butu:

Nitajuaje yakuwa nimechagua vizuri?

POSHIA: Moja lina picha yangu, mzawa wa mfalme: Ukilichagua hilo basi na mimi ni wako.

MOROKO: Muungu Fulani uniongoze. Hebu nione; nitayachagua tena maandiko toka mwisho. Nitaanzia la tatu: lasemaje, la risasi?

Itambidi atoe - atoleeni? Risasi? Na pia ahatarishe - kwa ajili ya risasi? Sanduku hili latisha: wahatarishao vyote hutumaini kupata faida iliyo nzuri: Wenye moyo wa dhahabu hawajali takataka; Kwa hiyo basi sitoi na wala sihatarishi chochote nilicho nacho kwa sababu ya risasi. La fedha lasema nini, lenye rangi ya baridi?

Apate astahilicho! Subiri hapa, Moroko. Upime thamani yako kwa mkono wa mwadilifu: Kama ukithaminiwa vile ujifanidivyo wastahili kutosha; walakini ya kutosha inaweza isitoshe kumpata siti huyu. Bali nikitia shaka kuwa simstahili,Basi hapo nitakuwa najiumbua mwenyewe. Stahili yangu ni nini? Bila shaka ni bibie. Namstahili, hakika, kwa nasaba na kwa mali, kwa madaha na kwa sifa zote za malezi mema na kuzidi yote hayo namstahili kwa pendo. Vipi, nisiendelee, nichague papa hapa?

Hebu tuyaone tena ya sanduku la dhahabu:

Naam, ni siti huyu; anotamaniwa kote. Toka pande zote nne za dunia wanakuja kubusu sanamu hii takatifu ilo hai: Majangwa ya Hirikani na nyika pana ajabu, za Uarabuni kote, sasa zimekuwa njia ziletazo watawala kumwona Poshia bora. Nayo dola ya bahari ambayo inapofura hutemea hata mbingu, haiwezi kuzuia nia ya wageni hao; ila wanazidi kuja, kama wavuka kijito, kumwona Poshia bora. Moja la matatu haya lina picha yake nzuri. Itawezekana kweli liwe lile la risasi? Wazo chafu kama hilo lingekuwa ni laana. Halifai japo kuwa sanda yake ya kaburini.

Au niwaze ya kuwa kawekwa ndani ya fedha? Moja ya kumi na moja ya thamani ya dhahabu? Hilo ni wazo la dhambi! Kito cha thamani hivi hakiwekeki po pote ila ndani ya dhahabu. Uingereza wanayo sarafu tu ya dhahabu, ambayo kwa juu yake imechapwa malaika. Bali hapa malaika mwenyewe hasa yu ndani ya sanduku hili hapa, na bahati nijaliwe!

POSHIA: Ni huu hapa, chukua, mzawa wa mfalme; kama sura yangu imo nimekuwa mali yako.

[Anafungua sanduku la dhahabu]

MOROKO: Mama yang! Nini hii? Ni fuu tupu la kichwa, ambalo katika jicho lina hati ma’ndiko. Nitasoma maandiko.

Nimefarikiwa kweli. Bure nimejitanibu. Basi buriani, joto; nawe, makiwa, karibu. Basi kwa heri Poshia. Ninayo

huzuni sana siwezi kwa heri ndefu: Ndivyo wanavyoagana watu waliopoteza.
[Aondoka na Wafuasi wake. Tarumbeta]

 
- Kutoka kwa Tendo la II, Onyesho la 7 katika Mabepari wa Venisi (The Merchant of Venice) na William Shakespeare, Imetafsiriwa na Mwalimu Nyerere

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?