3.1 Expansion of
Ideas
Q. Expand the idea inherent in the
following proverbs.
1) A Bad workman blames his tools.
Hints:
Explain the concept, give examples and illustrate the idea, give moral/message
etc.
Ans: A Bad workman blames his tools,
One who fails in his efforts or work,
gives excuses. Human nature is such that none prepared to accept his own
deficiency, drawbacks and negligence. A typist who often commits mistakes would
blame the quality of the typewriters. Similarly an inefficient mechanic
condemns the entire auto-mobile industry. This is because we are used to
finding fault with everyone and everything else except ourselves. Instead of
taking responsibility of uncompleted work some people find fault with the
equipment. They blame the equipment for their failure. They do not accept their
fault.
This is perhaps most evident in a
student who does not fare well in his examinations. Instead of looking for
reasons within himself, he looks outside for someone or something to blame such
as a difficult question paper, not getting time due to household problems or an
unkind examiner. Similarly a dancer who fails to perform well in a particular
event, attributes his poor performance to the incompetent musicians,
accompanists or to the poor stage management. In this way, the proverb aptly
reflects normal human behaviour.
2) One should eat to live, not live to
eat. - Franklin
Ans: One
should eat to live, not live to eat - Franklin
The proverb ‘one should eat to live,
not live to eat' means that no one should adopt eating as their favorite job.
We eat only for our survival. The only purpose to eat is to maintain our health
and strength. The proverb discourages the activity of over eating. Even if we
overeat, there are many diseases that we will have to suffer. Obesity and many
other cholesterol disorders in our body will occur due to over eating and
eating of unhealthy food. If we eat as per the requirement of our body, it will
definitely become healthy. Excessive eating increases weight. It also creates
problems in our stomach. Many physical disorders are caused due to the extra
eating of food. We should only eat that quantity of food which fulfills the
requirements of our body.
So we should remember this "One
should eat to live, not live to eat."
3) If winter comes, can spring be far
behind? - Shelly
Ans: If winter comes, can spring be far behind? Shelley
‘If winter comes, can spring be far
behind?’ is a quote of a great nature poet P. B. Shelley. The quote means
spring, a symbol of life and joy follows the winter, a symbol of death. It is symbolic
of life. As there is cycle of seasons in nature, the life is a web of sorrow
and happiness. Pain is not permanent. It is followed by gain of happiness. It
makes us optimistic. It gives rise to hopefulness.
The poet was undergoing a bad patch in
poetry. Good poetry wasn't coming of his way. But he didn't give in. He
strongly believed in his strength. He was hopeful of good poetry soon. Every
one of us has tough times in life. We should remember that there will be a good
time sooner or later. Yuvraj Singh was diagnosed with cancer. He got treatment
and came out with a new vigour to play cricket.
Every cloud has silver lining. One
should have positive attitude towards life. If you think you can, you can. If
you think you can't, you can't. Morning follows night. There is light after
darkness.
4) Beauty is truth, truth is beauty. -
John Keats
Ans: Beauty
is truth, truth is beauty.- John Keats
The famous line
'Beauty is truth, truth beauty', is taken from the ‘Ode On A Grecian Urn’ by John
Keats. It emphasizes the identity of beauty and truth. According to him real
beauty lies in truth. Anything which is not true and is false cannot be called
beautiful. All these represent truth, is beautiful only when it is truly
represented and manifested. What is not true or good can never really be
beautiful though it may have superficial attraction. Truth and falsehood are
qualities that belong to the work of our hands. They are expressed by our whole
personalities, by our characters, by our conduct, by our general talk and
conversation in the world. Great truths are often communicated by works of art:
literature, sculpture, architecture, painting, films or other effective media
understood by humans.
An artist who puts his heart and soul
in his work and applies true tones of colour theme and dedication, is able to
produce a beautiful piece. If his purpose is simply to flatter the onlooker and
paint for the sake of getting outward appreciation, his face cannot be called a
piece of lasting beauty. Truth is a beautiful operation, a dynamic thing which does
its beneficent work in a personal and social context.
Thus, 'Beauty is truth, truth
beauty'. This is the basic truth which all humans should know.
5) Where there is a will, there is a
way.
Ans: Where
there is a will, there is a way
Read the biographies of great men
and women, right from Albert Einstein to Edmund Hillary, we find that it is
their strong will which made them overcome great difficulties or setbacks and
find a way to march towards success. Similarly, a student may think to secure a
first class in an examination which is beyond his or her capacity. But if the
student makes a firm resolve to achieve his or her goal and works towards it
wholeheartedly, he or she is almost certain to achieve success.
There was a time when flying in the
air, travelling in space and sending messages and pictures over the air were
all regarded as flights of fancy. But today we see that these seemingly impossible
things have become possible. The aeroplane, the spaceship, the radio, the
television, the mobile phone and the internet are now realities. How have these
impossibilities been achieved? By the will-power, determination and dedication
of man all the impossible things come in reality. The doer is never a pessimist
or a defeatist. He is an optimist confident of ultimate success. He has the
will to win and achieve, and so he finds out ways and marches to ultimate victory.
So let us cultivate a strong will, a keen desire and the determination to
achieve our goals. If there is no way, we will create one. Victory is then
bound to be ours. That's why it is rightly said "where there is a will,
there is a way".
6) Nothing succeeds like success.
Ans: Nothing
succeeds like success
One success leads to another success.
If you get one success, it is usual that you get an encouragement to try to get
another success. Success boosts confidence of a person. Success imbibes
self-respect; success motivates and fills one with glory. This change in
emotional state has something to do with a truism we've all heard:
"Nothing succeeds like success". When you feel successful, you're
willing to tackle uncertain jobs in the belief that you're going to succeed
again. Success is the aim of success. That’s why we aspire for, reflects our
ability and capability to do a thing.
Dedication, devotion to the task and
positive thinking with determination have been the important factors of success
of every successful man. Nothing that comes too easily is worth having? When
you want to succeed, be ready to pay the price for it, which include braving
failures and setbacks and keep persistent with your efforts till the goal is
achieved. Mere talking idle, day dreaming or aimless drifting will not take you
to goal, but only divert your attention and dissipate your energy and strength.
Hardships, obstacles, failures are the various points in the path of success.
They are not to be evaded, but to face them bravely, courageously and with
double vigour.
7) The child is the father of the man.
Ans: The
child is the father of the man
It implies that the qualities and
characteristics shown by a child often indicate what the child is going to be
as a grown up man. The childhood is the reflection of future personality. The habits,
traits, qualities of a man are usually the development of the habits, traits,
qualities he had as a child. A careful study of the characteristic and
qualities in a child can help us to foretell his future prospects.
The child is father of the man is
proved true in many cases. See the example of Shivaji, who during his
childhood, loved so much to hear the stories of famous heroes of the Ramayana
and the Mahabharata, became later a great warrior himself. Michael, the famous
sculptor and painter, during his childhood used to make drawings on the pots,
easels, stools and other things belonging to an old painter. The old painter
said, "One day this boy will beat me." A Young Italian lad, Titian, was
very fond of painting pictures, but had no paints to colour with. He was such a
genius that he made his own paints. Nelson, the daring Naval Commander of
British Navy, showed his traits of courage and fearlessness during his
childhood.
In spite of apparent exceptions, it
is generally observed that the characteristics and qualities during childhood
are developed in the grown up personality of a man.
8) A friend in NEED is a friend INDEED.
Ans: A
friend in NEED is a friend INDEED
The above proverb tells us the role of
a true friend in our life. There are many friends in our life who always
accompany us in our good times but as the time changes they run away from us. On
the contrary, a true friend walks in when all other walk away from us in our
need.
The merit of a true friend is judged on
the basis of his/her role in our life in prosperity rather in adversity. I had
the same experience in my life. Once, my father failed to transfer the exam
fees in time. As a result, I was not able to fill the exam form. I discussed my
problem with a few close friends, but none of them responded positively. I was
bit tense. At the same time, Rahul came and handed over me a receipt of fees
which he paid without my notice. It was a great relief for me in such need.
That day, I realized that true friend is one who helps you in your need. I gave
a tight hug to him as a friend in NEED is a friend INDEED.
The lesson I learn from the proverb is
to distinguish between a true friend and a flattering foe.
