just when thought you knew.... evil axioms

I have continually been fascinated by dichotomy - it's everywhere, yet most people, given a choice, will tell you that most things are primarily black and white. Suppose I asked you if the statement, "look before you leap" is a reasonable and applicable axiom and if you might generally apply it to you life. I think concurrence would be wide-spread. Now, suppose I asked the same question about the statement, "he who hesitates is lost". What now? What if I reverse the questions? These "truisms" are not as true as we suppose. In fact, I could argue that each is mutually exclusive of the other and therefore, neither is true. Yes, I can hear you say that it depends on the circumstance. That is precisely the point. What good is any axiom if it isn'’t a guide? In my book, they become subject to the whim of the user, perhaps USED to justify an action, or a result. So axioms are, in the end, worthless. The fact that I see "both sides of the paper" at one time drives my wife crazy. It makes it hard to get a firm answer and in fact, I know it to be true. Sometimes I think that I've done it, yes - whoever I'm speaking to understands - they see both sides. Mostly, I think it is fleeting glances and then it is gone. For me it is like understanding the theory of relativity. When I watch a special or read a book, I think, yes I've got it; I understand. Yet, in five minutes it is all gone again and I feel like a thick-headed moron standing around with his britches full. It is a nightmare to communicate, but it is a great way to approach any decision. For work, the partners in the company recently took management tests and I scored strongly in the big picture/little picture - both sides of the coin thinking. I just can't help it. It doesn't cripple me when decision making; it is terrific, but it is damn hard to communicate all the back and forth to more concrete thinkers. Because of this personal little wrinkle, I am interested in and I have collected axioms similar to the one given above for several years now. Some I ran across, some I brought together, and some are pretty obvious. This compendium will screw you up forever -– here it is!

• Look before you leap; but, he who hesitates is lost.
• Never judge a book by its cover; but clothes make the man.
• The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.
• Absence makes the heart grow fonder; but familiarity breeds contempt, and out of sight, out of mind.
• If at first you don't succeed, try, try again; when the going gets tough, the tough get going; and where there's a will, there's a way, but don't beat your head against a wall.
• Two heads are better than one, but paddle your own canoe.
• It's better to be safe than sorry, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.
• Many hands make light work; but too many cooks spoil the broth.
• The bigger, the better, but the best things come in small packages.
• What will be, will be, but life is what you make it.
• With age comes wisdom, but out of the mouths of babes come all wise sayings.
• The more, the merrier, but two's company, three's a crowd.
• Opportunity knocks but once; but when one door shuts, another opens.
• A word to the wise is sufficient; but talk is cheap.
• A man's reach should exceed his grasp; but don't bite off more than you can chew.
• You are never too old to learn; but you can't teach an old dog new tricks.
• Birds of a feather flock together; but opposites attract.
• When in Rome, do as the Romans do, and if you can't beat them, join them; but to thine own self be true. Don't look a gift horse in the mouth, but beware of Greeks bearing gifts.
• A penny saved is a penny earned; but penny-wise, pound-foolish, and if you buy cheaply, you pay dearly.
• Haste makes waste, but time waits for no man.
• Fools rush in where angels fear to tread; but seize the day, and strike while the iron is hot.
• If something is worth doing, it is worth doing well; but half a loaf is better than none.
• Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and there's no time like the present; but don't cross the bridge until you come to it.
• Actions speak louder than words, but the pen is mightier than the sword.
• Better the devil you know than the devil you don't know; but variety is the spice of life.
• The best things in life are free, but no pain, no gain.
• Nothing ventured, nothing gained; but, it's better to be safe than sorry.
• A word to the wise is sufficient, but talk is cheap.