APAD: Still waters run deep

來源: 最西邊的島上 2024-03-29 06:52:44 [] [博客] [舊帖] [給我悄悄話] 本文已被閱讀: 次 (6059 bytes)
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It's normally used to say that people who are quiet or shy are often very intelligent and interesting.  But there is another meaning as explained below (per dear Wikipedia):

Still waters run deep is a proverb of Latin origin now commonly taken to mean that a placid exterior hides a passionate or subtle nature. Formerly it also carried the warning that silent people are dangerous, as in Suffolk's comment on a fellow lord in William Shakespeare's play Henry VI part 2:

Smooth runs the water where the brook is deep,
And in his simple show he harbours treason...
No, no, my sovereign, Gloucester is a man
Unsounded yet and full of deep deceit.

According to The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs, the first mention of the proverb appeared in Classical times in the form altissima quaeque flumina minimo sono labi (the deepest rivers flow with least sound) in a history of Alexander the Great by Quintus Rufus Curtius and is there claimed as being of Bactrian origin. The earliest use in English sources goes back to 1400.

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I don't need to look far to find people who are quiet but very intelligent and interesting, as there are two who live with me in my home now: my hubby and Maowi the cat.  In addition to that, I did often run into and be friends with such people at work.  I couldn't explain the attraction, but just felt trust and admiration towards them, and felt safe around them. Hope you also have such friends in your lives.   

Picture below is Maowi the cat waiting for his "Good Friday" breakfast quietlyHappy Friday everybody!

所有跟帖: 

靜水流深。喜怒不形於色。 -妖妖靈- 給 妖妖靈 發送悄悄話 妖妖靈 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 03/29/2024 postreply 08:48:22

是的,麵靜如鏡,暗湧在下哈! -最西邊的島上- 給 最西邊的島上 發送悄悄話 最西邊的島上 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 03/29/2024 postreply 15:17:34

Treason and deceit abound in a quiet person, the bard -7grizzly- 給 7grizzly 發送悄悄話 7grizzly 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 03/29/2024 postreply 09:13:21

seemed to say. So stay away :-) -7grizzly- 給 7grizzly 發送悄悄話 7grizzly 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 03/29/2024 postreply 09:19:57

barking dogs seldom bite. quiet dogs bite -移花接木- 給 移花接木 發送悄悄話 移花接木 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 03/29/2024 postreply 14:38:27

Yes. And don't forget rabies :-)) -7grizzly- 給 7grizzly 發送悄悄話 7grizzly 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 03/29/2024 postreply 14:46:41

wild creatures, racoon, skunk, are the main carriers, -移花接木- 給 移花接木 發送悄悄話 移花接木 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 03/29/2024 postreply 15:07:57

Plus those who are drunk as a skunk :-)) -7grizzly- 給 7grizzly 發送悄悄話 7grizzly 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 03/29/2024 postreply 15:22:09

I have yet to meet one dog who would bite me, quiet or not -最西邊的島上- 給 最西邊的島上 發送悄悄話 最西邊的島上 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 03/29/2024 postreply 15:25:24

but never say never ;-) -最西邊的島上- 給 最西邊的島上 發送悄悄話 最西邊的島上 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 03/29/2024 postreply 15:26:01

Yes, stay away, stay alert, stay safe, stay alive! -最西邊的島上- 給 最西邊的島上 發送悄悄話 最西邊的島上 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 03/29/2024 postreply 15:22:31

becareful quiet people -移花接木- 給 移花接木 發送悄悄話 移花接木 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 03/29/2024 postreply 14:37:38

It takes time 2 tell between the good & the bad quiet ones;) -最西邊的島上- 給 最西邊的島上 發送悄悄話 最西邊的島上 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 03/29/2024 postreply 15:28:32

Introvert and weird people may be dangerous, -唐宋韻- 給 唐宋韻 發送悄悄話 唐宋韻 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 03/29/2024 postreply 21:25:55

either to him/herself, or others. -唐宋韻- 給 唐宋韻 發送悄悄話 唐宋韻 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 03/29/2024 postreply 21:26:57

Possibly true, but I like to give them benefit of the doubt -最西邊的島上- 給 最西邊的島上 發送悄悄話 最西邊的島上 的博客首頁 (58 bytes) () 03/29/2024 postreply 22:12:48

靜水流深,大智慧。。 -盈盈一笑間- 給 盈盈一笑間 發送悄悄話 盈盈一笑間 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 04/01/2024 postreply 21:03:11

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