“You don’t have to tell everything you know. It took me a long time to learn the true meaning of that saying. My momma was always trying to teach it to me when I was coming up. Wish I’d learned it sooner.”
Last night’s video: My Appalachian Memoir 12.
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“I hope he ain’t gonna hurt his back a’gin, but you can’t tell him nothing.” Overheard: snippets of conversation I overhear in…
“I made’em up with buttermilk to save my sweet milk. They were still good.” Tipper Overheard: snippets of conversation I overhear in…
“I bet that about killed her momma and daddy. They always thought they were a little better than everybody else,…
“Make yourself at home. We’ll treat you so many different ways that you’re bound to like one of them.” ——————-…
“I’m glad we live in a rural place not like them people in the big cities stacked up like cordwood.”…
“My little daddy used to say you just have to bear it you don’t have to grin while you’re doing…
I remember my mother also directing “You don’t have to tell everything you know to me too. She certainly could never have been accused of that! Your secret was safe with her for sure.
I made your yogurt today since my family devoured the first batch I made last week! Thank you so much for sharing. It’s a big hit!!
My Daddy used to say, “You learn a lot more by listening than you do by talking.” He wasn’t a big talker, but when he did speak his words were filled with a lot of insight and wisdom. He didn’t have much book learning, but he was one of the smartest people I’ve ever known. I miss him so much.
I don’t know where my husband’s family got the saying from, but they say “You don’t need to tell people how tight your guts are wound.”
I guess one of my favorites I heard was what a neighbor’s son said, “Silence can’t be repeated.” There’s a lot of wisdom in that. Often things are stretched so far out of shape that by the time you hear the story it doesn’t sound anything like the truth.
There is a lot of truth and wisdom in those old stories. Please keep them coming
Growing up in a Fire-and-Brimstone church environment, I often wished that the old preacher would shut up and listen (to my stomach growling for dinner!) Especially when it was a Sunday for dinner on the ground.
My Pa used to say, “You can’t learn anything while you’re talking.”
My Dad always told us to stop talking & listen…. you may learn something.
I can’t wait for my Tipper time everyday. My husband and I watch you and your family every night. We have watched you so much, you seem like our second family. I make many of your recipes.
A companion to not telling all you know might be: Don’t ask every question that pops into your head.
Also heard this advice similar to the one today: “don’t spill your guts”.
After reading this story I was reminded of a life lesson taught to me by my daddy. He said his daddy told him if you tell everybody everything you know they will know as much as you do. I have never forgotten it.
There’s Bible verses that this advice comes from. Sorry but I can’t remember them right now but I’ll look them up later. My Aint Gene and Mom were always telling the children to learn to be quiet and say little so they could learn much.
Telling more than you know is worser!
“Many stories are not ours to tell.”
I agree, Vee. 🙂
So very true!!
My hubby has always said, God gave us two ears and one mouth, so we are to listen more than we talk. I’m thinking that lines up with scripture in James 1:19 …be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger…
It is indeed a challenge to not share everything I know, but since I’ve gotten older, I’m doing a lot better with the old sayings and with what scripture tells me. Not fully there yet, but hopefully by the time I die, I will be.
Correction: “A wise old owl lived in an oak. The more he saw the less he spoke. The less he spoke the more he heard. We should be more like that wise old bird.”
“A wise old owl lived in an oak
The more he heard the less he spoke
The less he spoke the more he heard
We should be more like that wise old bird.”
Yep, I was once one to want to share everything I knew, (that is real knowledge, not gossip). I slowly learned most people didn’t care to hear it so I shared less. Now I’m nearing a place where I may have to be asked directly before I’ll say. If I keep going the same way long enough I may just stop talking altogether (smile) but I likely won’t live quite that long.
I’m of the same thinkin’. “… I slowly learned most people didn’t care to hear it so I shared less. Now I’m nearing a place where I may have to be asked directly before I’ll say. If I keep going the same way long enough I may just stop talking altogether…”
I’d have to agree 100% and it’s a lesson learned the hard way. Mommy used to say “YOU run off like the clappers on a goose’s rearend!” (except she used an old term for a donkey.) She didn’t worry about hurting your feelers…. Lol gosh I surely go miss her!!!
Practical advice about chores and neighborliness. Heard most of these growing up. I am trying to remember a word my grandparents used. Maybe someone here can help with this. What is the word for a wide shoulder on an narrow two lane road? There were one or two on my grandparents’ road. Grandad said they were used by locals to get out of the way and let coal trucks pass. Thanks.
My Nana and Papa always called them a turnabout. Their parents all came from Middle Tennessee.
Turnout? We still have signs here that say “One Lane Road With Turnouts”
Back in the 1960’s US Forest Service roads used to be posted “Single lane road with turnouts. Drive carefully.” Maybe those are what you are remembering?
The smartest person in the room is the most silent.
Strong advice that has to be willingly understood in order to follow.
With two ears and one mouth we should listen twice as much as we talk. Some folks suffer from diarrhea of the mouth.
Tipper – the English language takes on many flavors around this country. I find Appalachia is one of the most colorful. There is so much depth and beauty of the language of Appalachia. Appalachian dialect adds music to my poetry.
Tom Tenbrunsel
A Carl Sandburg Writer for 2023
I agree. I love hearing those colorful words, phrases and clever sayings! I’ve always wanted to live in NC and came very close to moving there, but sudden health problems put the kybosh on our plans. I’m from where the Pilgrims landed.
Awww, so true and chock full of wisdom! It would keep down a lot of trouble if practiced more!
So much wisdom and truth in that saying.
Enjoyed yesterday’s post on all of the old phrases and words.
simple but profound!
There’s much wisdom in that saying.
That is a hard one to explain and learn. Another one….if you listen as much as you talk. Some of the good ones for sure. Wonderful read yesterday. God Bless