proverb amplification
You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink.
a) Paraphrase:
There are two meanings to the proverb “You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink.” One is literal and the other is metaphorical. The literal meaning is that thirsty horses often hesitate to go into rivers and creeks because of their fear of water. The horse owners would take their horse to riverbeds but the horse would be reluctant to go into the water to drink. The metaphorical meaning is that someone can get great advice or opportunity but you cannot make them take advantage of or utilize the great advice or opportunity they are being given. You can help someone as much as you like, but if they do not try or do not help themselves, then they will not succeed. The water symbolizes a tool that can be used or ignored. The tool can be anything- opportunity, advice, knowledge, etc. There is a good or bad choice left to that someone and the choice is if they choose to take advantage of the tools they are presented with.
b) Cause: This proverb is centuries old and is still just as meaningful today as it was when it was first created. Life is about taking advantage of opportunities and listening to good advice. The saying’s reason for existence is to spotlight the regret that comes from missed opportunity or from not capitalizing on good advice. In a lot of cases, the opportunity or advice is clear and logical, yet is still not taken advantage of. Following the advice would alleviate lots of bad life decisions as well as lots of missed opportunity.
c) Contrast: If the horse does not drink he dies of dehydration. The opportunity to quench his thirst is gone. This can be said for advice and opportunity as well. Once a person passes on either, they are usually gone. There aren’t many second chances in life and in that moment, when the opportunity is there, it must be taken advantage of, or it is gone forever.
d) An example: A father worked his whole adult life as a bus
a) Paraphrase:
There are two meanings to the proverb “You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink.” One is literal and the other is metaphorical. The literal meaning is that thirsty horses often hesitate to go into rivers and creeks because of their fear of water. The horse owners would take their horse to riverbeds but the horse would be reluctant to go into the water to drink. The metaphorical meaning is that someone can get great advice or opportunity but you cannot make them take advantage of or utilize the great advice or opportunity they are being given. You can help someone as much as you like, but if they do not try or do not help themselves, then they will not succeed. The water symbolizes a tool that can be used or ignored. The tool can be anything- opportunity, advice, knowledge, etc. There is a good or bad choice left to that someone and the choice is if they choose to take advantage of the tools they are presented with.
b) Cause: This proverb is centuries old and is still just as meaningful today as it was when it was first created. Life is about taking advantage of opportunities and listening to good advice. The saying’s reason for existence is to spotlight the regret that comes from missed opportunity or from not capitalizing on good advice. In a lot of cases, the opportunity or advice is clear and logical, yet is still not taken advantage of. Following the advice would alleviate lots of bad life decisions as well as lots of missed opportunity.
c) Contrast: If the horse does not drink he dies of dehydration. The opportunity to quench his thirst is gone. This can be said for advice and opportunity as well. Once a person passes on either, they are usually gone. There aren’t many second chances in life and in that moment, when the opportunity is there, it must be taken advantage of, or it is gone forever.
d) An example: A father worked his whole adult life as a bus