Did your parents use maxims to teach values?

[Kelly Green]

My parents were from the generation of the great depression and WWII. They were people of old-fashioned values: honesty, integrity, hard work and frugality. As I was growing up they tried to instill in me some of those values. They were people of few words but just about everything they told me was right. They used maxims to get across the point. Two favorites from my dad: “Don’t complain, just do it and it’s done.” “Don’t expect to receive more than you work for.” And a favorite from my mom, “Even a poor man can offer another man a prayer.” And one last from my granddad, “You’ll always miss one-hundred percent of the shots you never take.”

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

No, dad used a Ma deuce and mom used her Thompson

 

[blujax01]

Now if I were Sip, I'd say something like:
"Maxim"? Nah, Dad was more an "Esquire" man.

 

[HalfStack]

My dad was a Korean war veteran and my mom, well she was a graceful lady. I'm sure they taught us kids well.

 

[Kelly Green]

No, dad used a Ma deuce and mom used her Thompson

Ma deuce, I havent heard that term for a .50 in decades.

 

[rcnixon]

Darn Caj, you beat me to it.

Pop did use his belt for more than holding up his pants once in a while though.

Russ

 

[Texas Star]

My mother was fond of saying that every tub has to sit on its own bottom. That is, you're responsible for your own future. I think she got it from Will Rogers.


I prefer to listen to Dido Armstrong singing, "Life For Rent", which makes the same point. I just prefer Dido to Will Rogers. Here she is:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HlOW8b6b5Q&feature=related
:

 

[J Rich]

No! Mine use a piece of Cow Hide.

 

[Ironhand]

My folks were WW2 babies, and they adopted some of the more "progressive" beliefs of their generation, growing up in the late 50s and going to college in the early 60s.

 

[chud333]

Dad used to say, "Chop your own wood and it will warm you twice".
A quote from Abe Lincoln

 

[Muley Gil]

My Pappy's American Legion post has a German Maxim.

 

[mlk18]

I remember my Dad saying: "Boy, when you doing man's work it's okay to curse if you need to, but swear in front of your Momma (or any female) and I will correct in you in a way that will leave an impression". And by that he meant a leather basket-weave impression on my backside.

 

[David LaPell]

My grandfather had a saying long before it became a song, "if you don't stand for something you'll fall for anything."

My father never taught me much since him and I never really got along well. I learned not to do the things he did since he was known for being a crook (still is). I also learned to stay out of trouble after watching my sister go to jail a couple of times. I found that druggin and drinking really were not for me.

 

[AirForceShooter]

My Dad's favorite was "it builds character"

Funny I did it with my kids and they say it to theirs.

AFS

 

[Smith357]

The one that has stuck with me came from my grandfather.
"If you don't have the time to do the job right, when are you going to get the time to do the job over."

 

[blujax01]

Use it up -

Wear it out -

Make it do -

Or do without.

 

[GatorFarmer]

The only thing I recall, which stemmed from my grandparents as well, was in relation to iodine and minor injuries. It was along the lines of "the burn tells you that it is working".

Though my wife remembers the maxim "if you're going to cry, I'll give you something to cry about" and "wish in one hand..." as well as such catchy truisms as "snitches get stitches" , "always kick someone when they're down, it is a good time to finish them off" and "twist the knife before you pull it out". The last two were pretty much literal advice, but I suppose you could read a deeper meaning into them.

Outlaw bikers make great baby sitters I suppose.

 

[Rule3]

OMG!

My parents had and used everyone of them.

A place for everything and everything in it's place.

Plus 1000 more!

 

[WoodSmith]

My Dad told me more than once ".....if you buy things you don't need, pretty soon you'll be selling the things you do need..."

I think Ben Franklin said it first.

 

[Chik a Boom]

A couple that actually stuck with me:

"Act like a lady and you'll get treated like one."

"Actions speak louder than words."