Contrapuntal proverbs

They tickle my brain and i like them; just an archive of some to have examples when I talk about em

• blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb
• the early bird gets the worm,
  • but the early worm gets eaten
  • but the second mouse gets the cheese
• “Jack of all trades, master of none… but oftentimes better than master of one.”
• “Curiosity killed the cat… but satisfaction brought it back.”
• “Absence makes the heart grow fonder… but familiarity breeds contempt.”

Not sure if these are valid:

• “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery… that mediocrity can pay to greatness.”
• “Rome wasn’t built in a day… but it was burned in one.”
• “The proof is in the pudding / The proof of the pudding is in the eating.”
• “An eye for an eye… makes the whole world blind.”
• “Winning isn’t everything; it’s the only thing.”

Following is generated from ChatGPT. a bit weird

• “The road to hell is paved with good intentions… but so is the road to heaven.”
• “You can lead a horse to water… but you can’t make it think.”
• “Money can’t buy happiness… but it can buy comfort, which is pretty close.”
• “A fool and his money are soon parted… but how did they get together in the first place?”
• “Better late than never… but never late is better.”
• “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it… but if it doesn’t work well, maybe improve it.”
• “Good things come to those who wait… but only what’s left by those who hustle.”

Wisdom & Caution

1. “Hope for the best… but prepare for the worst.”
2. “Speak of the devil… and he shall appear.”
3. “Fool me once, shame on you… fool me twice, shame on me.”
4. “The pen is mightier than the sword… but only if the sword is very small and the pen is very sharp.”
5. “A little knowledge is a dangerous thing… but a lot of ignorance is deadly.”

Hard Work & Success

1. “The early bird gets the worm… but the second mouse gets the cheese.”
2. “Fortune favors the bold… but disaster haunts the reckless.”
3. “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger… or leaves you with lasting trauma.”
4. “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step… but make sure it’s in the right direction.”
5. “Do what you love… but remember, rent is still due.”

Money & Power

1. “Time is money… but money can’t buy time.”
2. “Power corrupts… but absolute power is kind of convenient.”
3. “Beggars can’t be choosers… but choosers sometimes end up beggars.”
4. “You can’t have your cake and eat it too… but why have cake if you can’t eat it?”
5. “Money talks… but it mostly whispers to the rich.”

Love & Relationships

1. “Love is blind… but marriage is an eye-opener.”
2. “Opposites attract… but similarities sustain.”
3. “A friend in need is a friend indeed… or just in need.”
4. “The grass is always greener on the other side… until you have to mow it.”
5. “Actions speak louder than words… but words are easier to post online.”