Your father's favorite maxim?

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  1. Joelle Burnette profile image70
    Joelle Burnetteposted 14 years ago

    My dad always has some pithy comment to sum up a situation. One of his favorites is, "Rich or poor, it's nice to have money."

    What are some of your family favorites?

    1. dutchman1951 profile image59
      dutchman1951posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      My Grandfather's; After you have eaten Steaks for awhile, beans don't taste so bad!

    2. Daniel Carter profile image63
      Daniel Carterposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      My dad owned a butcher shop. The company motto was
      "We skin beef, not customers."

      I put it in a hub about a lot of other family history turned comedy. So much drama and tragedy at times, but still, so much to laugh about if we let ourselves.

      1. emievil profile image68
        emievilposted 14 years agoin reply to this

        Hmmmmm, wonder what happened to make him put up that motto? big_smile

        1. Daniel Carter profile image63
          Daniel Carterposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          It was just his sense of humor. The farmers in the area always laughed about Mr. Carter's motto.

          1. emievil profile image68
            emievilposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            At least, they always think of your father when they think of buying beef smile. Your dad combined good sense of humor and great marketing at the same time. smile

  2. habee profile image92
    habeeposted 14 years ago

    I live in the Deep South. My dad was always saying,

    "Close that door! We can't cool the back yard!"

  3. Luciendasky profile image59
    Luciendaskyposted 14 years ago

    My grandpa would always say "deep subject" if there hadn't been any conversation in a while

  4. dohn121 profile image80
    dohn121posted 14 years ago

    Anytime I say something to the tune of, "Hey dad, that's a nice car, huh?"  His response will always be:

    "Sure...Can you take it with you [when you die]?"

    It's great having a devout Buddhist for a father.

  5. Luciendasky profile image59
    Luciendaskyposted 14 years ago

    That is an awesome approach to live dohn!

  6. loveofnight profile image74
    loveofnightposted 14 years ago

    i grew up hearing: a half loaf of bread is better than none

  7. dohn121 profile image80
    dohn121posted 14 years ago

    Thank you, Luciendasky...It's because of him that I always question every purchase I make.  Our world is filled with needless bundles of nothings!  When you think about it, there is very little we need to "survive" including food.  There are many things in this world that are free.  Those are usually the best things too big_smile

  8. profile image0
    ralwusposted 14 years ago

    You must pay for your sins. If you have already paid, you can ignore this warning.

    1. dohn121 profile image80
      dohn121posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Sheesh!  That's pretty dark, Charles!  Do you have change for $20? big_smile

    2. emievil profile image68
      emievilposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      hmmm, that sounds like something out of a credit card company's letter when I'm late for my payment. lol

      1. profile image0
        ralwusposted 14 years agoin reply to this

        LOL, they stole it from me. I am daddy now and grandpa too. Another thing I tell 'em is:
        Seen it all, done it all, can't remember most of it.

        1. Daniel Carter profile image63
          Daniel Carterposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          Dad used to say,
          "I'll have you know my memory is PERFECT!!! It just doesn't last long."

        2. emievil profile image68
          emievilposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          LOL, that's a safe one.

          Okay hmmmm. Back to the topic. My father was very strict. He always says "no boyfriend until after college" (shheeesssh). then he will follow it with "after you graduate, you can get married the next day, I won't stop you". (double sheeesssh). come to think of it, how can we get married day after graduation when we can't have boyfriends two days before that? smile

          1. profile image0
            ralwusposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            He ever tell ya to hold an aspirin between yer knees when with a boy?

            1. emievil profile image68
              emievilposted 14 years agoin reply to this

              LOL nope. He's conservative ya know. Can't discuss those things, might give him a heart attack smile.

  9. profile image0
    ralwusposted 14 years ago

    No, but I also have this:
    Remember to use all fingers when waving at a policeman.

    1. Joelle Burnette profile image70
      Joelle Burnetteposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Very good advice!

  10. rmcrayne profile image90
    rmcrayneposted 14 years ago

    Dad had plenty of sayings, here's one:

    There's always gonna be days where everything you touch just turns to s*^t.

  11. tantrum profile image59
    tantrumposted 14 years ago

    He always said : We all come to life comdemned to death.

    1. Daniel Carter profile image63
      Daniel Carterposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      [shudder...]
      Creepy cool truth. Should be on the walls of every church and spook alley.
      LOL

      1. tantrum profile image59
        tantrumposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          But he allways said with a laugh. He thought life was a big joke big_smile

        1. Daniel Carter profile image63
          Daniel Carterposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          That's terribly, awfully, horribly refreshing. And the best part is it's a rub to so many who don't know how to laugh.

  12. profile image0
    ralwusposted 14 years ago

    You had a good dad. My last one I promise. hehe I also give this sound advice:
    Santa Claus has the right idea, visit people only once a year.

    1. emievil profile image68
      emievilposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Especially if they're your godchildren lol

  13. profile image0
    ralwusposted 14 years ago

    I would think not. He's lived too I would imagine. He once was young and carefree.

    1. emievil profile image68
      emievilposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Think so but that was like a long time ago for him. He had me when he was already 37 and long gone from his bachelor days smile.

  14. dohn121 profile image80
    dohn121posted 14 years ago

    Thank you for the fan mail, Ernie smile  I appreciate it.

    1. emievil profile image68
      emievilposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      hey you're welcome. I'm counting two weeks before you have your 500 fans smile.

      1. dohn121 profile image80
        dohn121posted 14 years agoin reply to this

        That would be pretty amazing!  I hope I don't let you down smile

        1. emievil profile image68
          emievilposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          hehehehe, hope my good luck wishes work again this time. Gotta go, past midnight here already.

          Good nite everyone smile

          1. dohn121 profile image80
            dohn121posted 14 years agoin reply to this

            Night, Ernie!

          2. Daniel Carter profile image63
            Daniel Carterposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            Night Mary Ellen! Night John Boy!
            Gosh, it's wakee-wakee time here. I need breakfast!

  15. andromida profile image54
    andromidaposted 14 years ago

    Please don't waste your time.smile

  16. Pearldiver profile image67
    Pearldiverposted 14 years ago

    "Whatever you do in your life - Don't Abide Fools!" hmm (Woof Woof)

  17. frogdropping profile image78
    frogdroppingposted 14 years ago

    He never followed the maxim rule book. My dad made things up as he went along.

    it´s more than just a stick

    or

    never look down kids. it's always as high as it looks

    It's why I'm an idiot smile

    1. profile image0
      ralwusposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Poor froggy. Did ya listen to him? hehe don't answer.

  18. dutchman1951 profile image59
    dutchman1951posted 14 years ago

    A Friend of mine is a Model Railroader, on his lay out he has a scale wearhouse building with an advertisement decal on it:

    Miracle Chair Co.
    If it's a good chair, its a Miracle!!!!!


    lol

  19. profile image0
    Ghost32posted 14 years ago

    My late father's maxim:

    "You're pounding sand down a rathole, kid."

    How'd he know we'd end up with pet baby kangaroo rats 12 years after he passed from the planet?  lol

  20. profile image0
    ralwusposted 14 years ago

    All people are born alike, except Republicans and Democrats.

  21. rebekahELLE profile image86
    rebekahELLEposted 14 years ago

    your ship will come in one day~ smile

  22. profile image0
    Crazdwriterposted 14 years ago

    My favorite has to be when either mom or my brother or myself as my dad a question and if my dad doesn't know the asnwer he always made something up. lmao my daddy is a character!

  23. profile image0
    ralwusposted 14 years ago

    Dad one day, 1956; I married your mother because I wanted children. Imagine my disappointment when you came along.

    1. Joelle Burnette profile image70
      Joelle Burnetteposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      lol...sounds familiar.

  24. dohn121 profile image80
    dohn121posted 14 years ago

    Friends are like electricity: Used them wisely and you will benefit from having them.  Used them carelessly and they can kill you.

    That's probably my all-time favorite from him.

  25. tksensei profile image61
    tksenseiposted 14 years ago

    I think it's probably this one:

    http://www.maxim.com/girls/girls-of-maxim?p=2

  26. onthewriteside profile image60
    onthewritesideposted 14 years ago

    my dad used to tell me "be a ram, not a lamb".  he got that from his father.  the same grandfather had another one i always liked though..."if you can't soar with the eagles in the morning, then you shouldn't have been out hooting with the owls all night".

    1. Joelle Burnette profile image70
      Joelle Burnetteposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      good advice.

  27. GoldiString profile image60
    GoldiStringposted 14 years ago

    My teenage years my dad used to say - "Keep off the grass" - i thought this was some sign posted in a park/garden. Until i saw some teenage groups having a pot session, puffing weed. Aye! that's the grass he was talking about!

  28. Dominionmaster2 profile image62
    Dominionmaster2posted 14 years ago

    My dad used to tell us boys that we would rather rake a tiger in the ass with a handful of barbed wire than to mess with him.

    He was always going to spin us like a button on a barn door.

    Stupid is as stupid does!

    My mom used to tell us that it was better to remain silent and let others believe we were stupid, than to open our mouths and remove all doubt.

    1. broussardleslie profile image76
      broussardleslieposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      That's AWESOME!

      1. maven101 profile image70
        maven101posted 14 years agoin reply to this

        My Dad told me when I went into business for myself " What you allow is what you teach "....no wonder he was so tough on us growing up...but he was consistent..

      2. Dominionmaster2 profile image62
        Dominionmaster2posted 14 years agoin reply to this

        Yeah my mom was always saying stuff that at first sounds like an insult, but then after a few minutes you thought wow she's kinda right. I always said my Moms Epitaph was going to read, " OH YEAH AND ANOTHER THING MISTER!"

  29. LondonGirl profile image82
    LondonGirlposted 14 years ago

    "Worse things happen at sea".

    And he tends to say in late June, every year, "darker every day now until Christmas!" which annoys everyone else. Because in the UK, the summer days are endless - light at 4am, dark at 10pm, but the down side is that it's jolly dark in December (-:

  30. Deborah-Lynn profile image59
    Deborah-Lynnposted 14 years ago

    "Learn from your elders, if you can avoid making the same mistakes they did you'll be ahead of the game, gorsh almighty!"

  31. lrohner profile image69
    lrohnerposted 14 years ago

    "Hindsight is 20/20"

  32. Sybil Marie profile image60
    Sybil Marieposted 14 years ago

    When driving in the car my dad would say "As the monkey said as he backed into the meat grinder...it won't be long now"

  33. profile image0
    Nelle Hoxieposted 14 years ago

    Everyday, starting in kindergarten when my sister and I would leave for school my dad would say, "Hold your head up high, put one foot in front of the other, take a deep breath, and speak your peace."


    Even when we became adults, he would say that as we left the house.

  34. LondonGirl profile image82
    LondonGirlposted 14 years ago

    My Granny's one was, "Laugh and the world laughes with you, cry and you cry alone".

    Nelle, I love your Dad's!

  35. Quilligrapher profile image73
    Quilligrapherposted 14 years ago

    My mother never tired of reminding me, "Be sure to get a good education.  It's one of the few things in life that no one can take away from you."
    Q.

    1. Joelle Burnette profile image70
      Joelle Burnetteposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Are you Jewish? I've been hearing that all my life. My parents made it clear that our ancestors may have been chased out of one place after the next. Therefore, the only thing you can really carry with you no matter where you go is, your mind, your knowledge, your education.

  36. profile image0
    A Texanposted 14 years ago

    My dads favorite

    I wont F#@K you if you don't F%$K me but if you F$#K me you're F$#Ked!

    He has a way with words!

    1. Joelle Burnette profile image70
      Joelle Burnetteposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Your dad is subtle, isn't he

  37. Carmen Borthwick profile image61
    Carmen Borthwickposted 14 years ago

    My dad always told me you can accomplish anything you set your mind to and if you ever feel intimidated by anothe person just picture that person on the toilet because we all look the same when we're taking care of business. Needless to say I am not easily intimidated.

    1. Joelle Burnette profile image70
      Joelle Burnetteposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Carmen, my dad said the same thing, but he would say to picture them in their undergarments before reminding me, "everyone puts on their pants, one leg at a time."

 
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