Joseph D. Kulisics/Proverbs

Every dog has his day.

People usually cite this proverb for the benefit of the powerful and successful as a reminder or warning that the lowly and aggrieved always get a chance for revenge, so I consider myself an optimist because I saw in the proverb a message of hope, a promise that persistence is rewarded with success, instead of the traditional, cynical interpretation.
In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.

This proverb means that possessing even marginal competence amidst incompetence or inability raises people above their peers. I've built my academic renaissance on this principle realizing that inspiration comes from unlikely quarters and believing that every area of inquiry no matter how obscure extends the imaginative reach of the mind.

I've attributed a second, darker meaning to the proverb: if a person can cripple rivals and retain some advantage, then that person will reign supreme.
Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.

This proverb on the wisdom of moving cautiously where better people hesitate needs no elaboration. I only wish that I had heeded the advice of these words years earlier. I could have avoided many missteps and false starts.
When a wise man points at the moon, an idiot looks at his finger.

This proverb, usually attributed to Confucius, contains a double meaning. It warns the inquiring to expect to be personally attacked for their observations and thoughts, but it also warns critics against substituting ad hominem attacks on people for criticism of their ideas.

UCLA

Graduate Student

Department of Computer Science, UCLA

Joseph D. Kulisics

Kulišić Кулишић 居候犬

Proverbs

Every dog has his day.

In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.

Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.

When a wise man points at the moon, an idiot looks at his finger.