Greek Proverb of the Day

Here is today's proverb from the blog with a LOLcat and vocabulary too! This is a repeat of a proverb you've seen before, but the vocabulary list is new. The vocabulary links go to Logeion.

Αἲξ θάλασσαν.

• αἴξ.
• θάλασσαν, from θάλασσα.

Αἲξ θάλασσαν.

The goat (sees) the sea.

The idea is that the goat is amazed by the sea, and looks at it with fascination because it is something entirely new. Goats live in mountains and valleys; they do not often get to see the sea, so the saying is used to refer to someone who is staring in amazement at something they have not seen before.

And here's a quiz covering the past four cats (answers at the blog only, not in the email):

Μνήμην ______.

reveal/hide answer

Μνήμην καμήλου.

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Σπεῦδε ______.

reveal/hide answer

Σπεῦδε βραδέως.

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Αἲξ ______.

reveal/hide answer

Αἲξ θάλασσαν.

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Μίδου ______.

reveal/hide answer

Μίδου χρήματα.

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And to finish up, here's a random LOLCat too:

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Greek Proverb of the Day: October 8

Here is today's proverb from the blog with a LOLcat and vocabulary too! This is a repeat of a proverb you've seen before, but the vocabulary list is new. The vocabulary links go to Logeion.

Σπεῦδε βραδέως.

• σπεῦδε, from σπεύδω (imperative).
• βραδέως, from βραδύς (adverb).

Σπεῦδε βραδέως.

Hurry up slowly.

In other words: don't be slow, but don't be too fast either! This phrase became popular as a Latin saying, which has its own Wikipedia article: Festina lente. Compare a similarly paradoxical English saying: "More haste, less speed."

And here's a quiz covering the past three cats (answers at the blog only, not in the email):

Μνήμην ______.

reveal/hide answer

Μνήμην καμήλου.

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Μίδου ______.

reveal/hide answer

Μίδου χρήματα.

---

Σπεῦδε ______.

reveal/hide answer

Σπεῦδε βραδέως.

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And to finish up, here's a random LOLCat too:

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Click here to subscribe/unsubscribe to the email list.

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Greek Proverb of the Day: October 7

Here is today's proverb from the blog with a LOLcat and vocabulary too! This is a repeat of a proverb you've seen before, but the vocabulary list is new. The vocabulary links go to Logeion.

Μνήμην καμήλου.

• μνήμην, from μνήμη.
• καμήλου, from κάμηλος.

Μνήμην καμήλου.

(He has) the memory of a camel.

The Greeks believed that the camel had a good memory. A related proverb states: μνησικακία καμήλου, "the camel's remembrance of wrongs" (μνησι-κακία), i.e. the camel remembers any person who has treated it badly and will seek revenge. You can see the root μνημ- in the name Μνημοσύνη, the Greek goddess of memory: Wikipedia: Mnemosyne.

And here's a quiz covering the past two cats:

Μίδου ______.

reveal/hide answer

Μίδου χρήματα.

---

Μνήμην ______.

reveal/hide answer

Μνήμην καμήλου.

---

And to finish up, here's a random LOLCat too:

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Click here to subscribe/unsubscribe to the email list.

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Greek Proverb of the Day: October 6

Here is today's proverb from the blog with a LOLcat and vocabulary too! This is a repeat of a proverb you've seen before, but the vocabulary list is new. The vocabulary links go to Logeion.

Μίδου χρήματα.

• Μίδου, from Μίδας. 
• χρήματα, from χρῆμα. 

Μίδου χρήματα.

The money of Midas.

King Midas was legendary for his wealth, but the "touch of gold" came at a terrible price; you can read the story at Wikipedia: Midas. Erasmus cites some other Greek sayings about the proverbially wealthy Midas: Μίδου πλοῦτος, "the wealth of Midas" and Μίδου πλουσιώτερος, "richer than Midas."

And here's a quiz:

Μίδου ______.

reveal/hide answer

Μίδου χρήματα.

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And to finish up, here's a random LOLCat too:

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Click here to subscribe/unsubscribe to the email list.

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