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Kuokoa mia ni kuingiza mia

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Updated 4mo ago
by
Brighid McCarthy
View this proverb in English
A penny saved is a penny earned
Methali hii inatoka Kiingereza "A penny saved is a penny earned." Maana yake, mia inayobaki mfukoni inaweza kutumiwa kwajali ya madhumuni mengine. Mifano: Inaweza kutumika kwaajili ya kununua kitu kingine, unaweza kukopesha au kuwekeza ili kuingiza riba au pesa zaidi katika siku zijazo. Katika uchumi, kanuni hii inaitwa Opportunity Costs (gharama za kukosa fursa). Tunapotumia pesa au muda kwa jambo limoja, tunapoteza pia fursa ya kuzitumia kwajili ya jambo lingine.

Methali hii huhusishwa na Benjamin Franklin, lakini si chimbuko halisi, wala hakuandika msemo huu kamili. Misemo karibu na huu ilichapishwa kabla yake. Kwa mfano: 

A penny spar'd is twice got.
Senti iliyookolewa hupatikana mara mbili.
- Outlandish Proverbs by George Herbert (1640)  
 
Katika Poor Richard's Almanac (1736), Benjamin Franklin alinukuu methali hii na alifafanua vizuri kanuni ya Opportuinty Cost hivi:

Vidokezo kwa Wale Wanaotaka kuwa Matajiri

Matumizi ya pesa ndiyo faida zote zinayopatikana ukiwa na pesa.
Kwa pound [£] sita kwa mwaka [yaani riba] unaweza kutumia  £ mia [yaani kupitia mkopo], kama unajulikana kama mwaminifu na mwenye busara.
Anayetumia groat [senti 4] kwa siku bure, hutumia pound £ zaidi ya sita kwa mwaka, ambazo ni bei ya kujipatia matumizi ya pound £ mia moja.
[Kwa hivyo] Anayepoteza muda wake wa thamani ya groat [senti 4] kwa siku, siku moja na nyingine, anapoteza fursa ya kutumia pound mia moja kila siku.
Anayepoteza muda wa shilingi tano kwa uvivu hupoteza shilingi tano, ni kama amezitupa tu baharini.
Anayepoteza shilingi tano sio tu kwamba anapoteza kiasi hicho, bali anapoteza pia faida yote ambayo ingeweza kupatikana kwa kuzitumia katika shughuli zake, ambayo, akiwa kijana, wakati wa uzee ingefikia kiasi kikubwa cha fedha.
Tena: anayeuza kwa mkopo huongeza bei ya kile anachokiuza kwa kiasi sawa riba angaliingiza na pesa hizo kwa kipindi ambacho atazikosa. Kwa hivyo, anayenunua kwa mkopo hulipa riba kwa kile anachonunua, na anayelipa pesa mara moja kwa kila anachonunua hukoa fursa ya kuzikopesha kwa wengine, kwa hivyo aliye na kitu alichonunua ameshalipa riba kwa matumizi yake.
Hata hivyo nasema kulipa mara moja unaponunua ni bora, kwa sababu anayeuza kwa mkopo anatarajia kupoteza asilimia tano ya mikopo; kwa hivyo anaongeza bei ya kile anachokiuza kwa asilimia ileile ili kuzuia hasara. Wanaolipa kwa mikopo hulipa kodi mara moja. Anayelipa kwa pesa mara moja anaweza kuzuia kodi hii
"Senti iliyohifadhiwa ni senti mbili hakika;
[haba] kwa siku ni [nne] kwa mwaka."
 
Basi, unapofikiria kutumia muda au pesa zako katika jamblo fulani, jiulize, ningekosa, ningepata fursa zipi? Pesa hizi zingeweza kutumikia vipi? Mifano: kumkopesha mwingine, kurudisha madeni uliyonayo, kubuni kitu kipya au kuwekeza katika kitu ambacho kinaweza kuleta faida kubwa mbeleni.
Sources
Outlandish Proverbs by George Herbert (Explained and Translated to modern English)
Origin and meaning of the proverb (Snopes) (Grammarist) (Forbes) (Wiktionary)
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Other proverbs
Haba na haba hujaza kibaba
Kila kazi kubwa katika maisha huhitaji kufanyika kwa hatua ndogo, siku baada ya siku. 

Je, unajua methali zingine zinazofanana na hii au zinazotoa dhana hiyohiyo? 

Msemo huu unakumbusha shairi liitwalo "Vitu Vidogo" na Julia Abigail Fletcher Carney: 
Matone madogo ya maji,
Chembe kidogo za mchanga, 
hutengeneza bahari kubwa
Na ardhi ya kupendeza

Vivyo hivyo zile dakika ndogo,
ingawa ni ndogo,
hutengeneza enzi za milele. 
Julia Carney alitunga shairi hili mwaka wa 1845 darasani akiwa mwanafunzi darasani -- na alipewa dakika 10 tu kuliandika!
...
Updated 4mo ago
by
Brighid McCarthy
The grass is always greener on the other side
This proverb refers to the tendency to imagine or dwell on the notion that other people have nicer things...like your neighbor having a nicer lawn. 

The original source of this proverb is Ovid's "Art of Love", a book of advice for men and women about finding and keeping romantic relationships, written over 2000 years ago, about 2 AD:
People don't resist the temptation of new delights. We always deem that other people are more fortunate than ourselves. The crop is always better in our neighbour's field; his cows more rich in milk.
- Ovid The Art of Love, Page 24

One lesson from this proverb is to focus more on what you have, ignoring what others may have that is better. Another lesson might be to put your attention on improving your own situation (like watering your lawn) rather than dwelling on the fact that your lawn (or situation in general) is inferior.

An interesting variation on this proverb is: "The grass is always greener where you water."

Similar proverbs from other cultures:

Hindi:
दूर के ढोल सुहावने लगते हैं
From far away the drums sound better
Chinese:
隔籬飯香
Next door's rice smells good 
Japanese:
隣の芝生は青く見える
The neighbor's grass seems green 
Russian:
соседняя очередь всегда движется быстрее
The other queue always moves faster 



...
Updated 4mo ago
by
Brighid McCarthy
2
Mchumia juani, hulia kivulini
 
na Magreth Lazaro Mafie 🇹🇿
🏆 Shindano la Insha ya Methali 
🥉 Mshindi wa Tatu
Ni mara ngapi umesikia Mchumia juani hulia kivulini? Hii ni methali ya kiswahili (kibantu) yenye maana ya kuwatia moyo watu katika shughuli mbalimbali wanazozifanya Kila siku wawe na Imani kuwa ipo siku watayafurahia matunda ya kazi yao. 

Methali hii huwapa watu nguvu, bidii, moyo, ujasiri, tumaini na weledi katika kufanya kazi. Mfanyakazi huamini kuwa baada ya kazi ngumu zenye surubu basi huleta mavuno mazuri yenye kumfanya astareheke kivulini akila matunda ya kazi yake. Shairi lifuatalo linaonesha kwa namna gani mchumia juani huwa katika majukumu ya Kila siku.

Siogopi jua wala mvua, nikiitengeneza kesho yangu
Siogopi maumivu Wala majeraha, maana yote ni ya muda
Jua kali na kazi ndiyo desturi yangu, ili kheri kuja maishani
Machinga,mkulima, makuli na mvuvi wao na jua, Ili kuitafuta kesho
Mchumia juani, hulia kivulini bado nakitafuta kivuli.
Ni mchana jua la utosi, kichwani nina mavuno, jasho linatiririka
Jua limezama Sasa kasia ufukweni, hoi kitandani, nyavu zi baharini
Nyumbani mtaa wa nne, nahodha wa familia surubu nivute  kheri
Jua Sasa la chomoza, Kiguu na njia kulitafuta tonge
Mchumia juani, hulia kivulini bado nakitafuta kivuli.

Bwana mmoja alikuwa mkulima. Maisha yake yote alitumia katika kilimo. Hivyo kupendeza kwake kulikuwa mara chache. Watu kijijini kwake walimuita mkulima stadi. Alijenga nyumba kwa kuuza sehemu ya mazao yake, alisomesha wanae kwa kilimo.

Bwana huyu alikuwa mtu mwenye bidii alijifunza siku zote kanuni za mkulima bora, hivyo kadri muda unavyokwenda mashamba yake alivuna mazao mengi. Watu wengi walistaajabu sana kuona mabadiliko makubwa ndani ya familia yake. Aliwekeza vitu vingi kijijini kwake, mashamba, nyumba, maduka na mifugo mingi vilitoka shambani.

Watu wengi walikuja kujichukulia hekima kwa mkulima stadi. Siku zote aliwaambia "Mchumia juani, hulia kivulini. Jembe limeniheshimisha kijijini Mimi na familia yangu. Maisha yangu sasa yanakwenda barabara kwa hakika niko kivulini nafurahia matunda ya kazi yangu ya juani. Mimi leo kijana wa mkulima huyo stadi najivunia malezi, uwajibikaji wake kwa sababu kazi za juani leo zimetufanya tupumzike na kula kivulini. Kwa hakika maana ya mchumia juani inaonekana kwa vitendo. Bidii yako ndilo jua lako na kivuli ndiyo matunda ya bidii yako.

Hadithi hii inashibishwa na hadithi ilee ya "Mabala the Farmer" yaani Mabala Mkulima iliyoandikwa na Richard S. Mabala(1989). 

Mabala alikuwa mfanyakazi bandarini Kisha akapunguzwa hivyo akachagua kurudi kijijini Morogoro. Mabala alikuwa mzembe,mlevi na mbishi. Mabala alikwenda shambani na galoni ya pombe alikunywa na kulala, alipoamka alimwongelesha mkewe lakni hakujibiwa zaidi ya  sauti ya jembe tik-tok, tik-tok .

Mabala alikuwa mbishi, alimwagilia sukari shambani alifikiri ni mbolea, lakni mwisho alibadilika na kuwa mkulima stadi akawa mchumia juani ili familia yake ije kulia kivulini. Je wewe unahisi Mabala ni mchumia juani? Ndani ya familia au kwenye jamii mkulima stadi anakupa picha gani?

Mwisho hadithi hii kutoka katika methali ya mchumia juani hulia kivulini hutuonyesha dira njema katika kila tunachokifanya katika maisha ya kila siku. Huku methali kama Subira yavuta kheri, Mgaa na Upwa hali wali mkavu zote hufanana kimaudhui, zipo katika kuipa jamii nguvu na matumaini kwa kila jambo lifanyikalo katika malengo.
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11
All that glitters is not gold
Once upon a time long ago, there was a beautiful, intelligent and kind young woman named Portia. Many men wanted to marry her and came to woo her. Portia’s father had died and left behind a will instructing that any suitor of Portia would have to choose among three caskets, one of gold, one of silver and one of lead. Only the suitor who chose correctly would be allowed to marry Portia and inherit all her father’s wealth. One day, the Prince of Morocco came to woo Portia.

The Merchant of Venice

Watch ▶️ on YouTube 

Portia: Go draw aside the curtains and discover
The several caskets to this noble prince.
Now make your choice.

Prince of Morocco: The first, of gold, who this inscription bears,
'Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire;'
 The second, silver, which this promise carries,
 'Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves;'
 This third, dull lead, with warning all as blunt,
 'Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath.'
How shall I know if I do choose the right?

Portia: The one of them contains my picture, prince:
 If you choose that, then I am yours withal.

Prince of Morocco: Some god direct my judgment! Let me see;
 I will survey the inscriptions back again.
 What says this leaden casket?
 'Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath.'
 Must give: for what? for lead? hazard for lead?
 This casket threatens. Men that hazard all
 Do it in hope of fair advantages:
 A golden mind stoops not to shows of dross;
 I'll then nor give nor hazard aught for lead.
 What says the silver with her virgin hue?
 'Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves.'
 As much as he deserves! Pause there, Morocco,
 And weigh thy value with an even hand:
 If thou be'st rated by thy estimation,
 Thou dost deserve enough; and yet enough
 May not extend so far as to the lady:
 And yet to be afeard of my deserving
 Were but a weak disabling of myself.
 As much as I deserve! Why, that's the lady:
 I do in birth deserve her, and in fortunes,
 In graces and in qualities of breeding;
 But more than these, in love I do deserve.
 What if I stray'd no further, but chose here?
 Let's see once more this saying graved in gold
 'Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire.'
 Why, that's the lady; all the world desires her;
 From the four corners of the earth they come,
 To kiss this shrine, this mortal-breathing saint:
 The Hyrcanian deserts and the vasty wilds
 Of wide Arabia are as thoroughfares now
 For princes to come view fair Portia:
 The watery kingdom, whose ambitious head
 Spits in the face of heaven, is no bar
 To stop the foreign spirits, but they come,
 As o'er a brook, to see fair Portia.
 One of these three contains her heavenly picture.
 Is't like that lead contains her? 'Twere damnation
 To think so base a thought: it were too gross
 To rib her cerecloth in the obscure grave.
 Or shall I think in silver she's immured,
 Being ten times undervalued to tried gold?
 O sinful thought! Never so rich a gem
 Was set in worse than gold. They have in England
 A coin that bears the figure of an angel
 Stamped in gold, but that's insculp'd upon;
 But here an angel in a golden bed
 Lies all within. Deliver me the key:
 Here do I choose, and thrive I as I may!

Portia: There, take it, prince; and if my form lie there,
 Then I am yours.

[He unlocks the golden casket]
Prince of Morocco: O hell! what have we here?
 A carrion Death, within whose empty eye
 There is a written scroll! I'll read the writing.
 [Reads]
All that glitters is not gold;
Often have you heard that told:
Many a man his life hath sold
But my outside to behold:
Gilded tombs do worms enfold.
Had you been as wise as bold,
Young in limbs, in judgment old,
Your answer had not been inscroll'd:
Fare you well; your suit is cold.
 Cold, indeed; and labour lost:
 Then, farewell, heat, and welcome, frost!
 Portia, adieu. I have too grieved a heart
 To take a tedious leave: thus losers part.
 [Exit with his train.

- From The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare, Act II Scene 7
...
Updated 4mo ago
by
Brighid McCarthy
1