Famous Sayings #136 — ‘Idle Hands …’

February 10, 2019

Idle hands are the devil’s playthings.

This is an odd parable, but one I first heard of while watching a 1999 film starring Devon Sawa. (Anyone who has watched the live-action film “Casper” or “Little Giants” should know who he is.) However, I heard another version of this parable in that movie.

In fact, there are multiple versions of this saying:

• Idle hands are the devil’s playground.
• Idle hands are the devil’s playthings.
• Idle hands are the devil’s tools.
• Idle hands are the devil’s workshop
• The devil makes work for idle hands (to do).

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Famous Sayings #108 — ‘Better Late Than Never’

June 11, 2018

Jim, you’re finally here! This meeting started 10 minutes ago, but better late than never.

Here is a scene from the NBC hit show, Better Late Than Never. (From left) Terry Bradshaw, George Foreman, and Henry Winkler can be seen in Berlin as Bradshaw reads a letter written for Winkler. Taken via screenshot. (Video)

I’m trying my best to get these famous sayings posts on Sundays, but like last week, I’m a day behind. Better late than never.

While doing the research for this post, I discovered that there is a show with that title that airs on NBC. Better Late Than Never is an American reality-travel show that was based on a South Korean show entitled Grandpas Over Flowers. Each episode sees the cast traveling to foreign locations without luxuries and checking off items on their bucket lists. The American show stars Terry Bradshaw, George Foreman, William Shatner, and Henry Winkler (who serves as one of the series’ executive producers). Comedian Jeff Dye serves as their younger companion.

Better Late than Never is produced by Universal Television and it airs on NBC. The network bought the rights for the remake in 2014, the show began production in August 2015, and it first aired on August 23, 2016. The show is still running, and it was picked up for its second season on September 22, 2016.

I haven’t watched this show because I haven’t watched much television — beyond sporting events and select programs — for years. Perhaps I should watch this program, although I am a bit late to the party. Better late than never.

Famous Sayings: #95 — ‘Familiarity Breeds Contempt’

January 6, 2018

I like to keep most of my co-workers at arm’s length because, as they say, familiarity breeds contempt.

Today, I thought I’d go with a phrase that is itself very familiar (although very cynical). On some level, this theme is connected to the posts I made this week on the subject of hype (I’ll explain). Yet for the most part, it’s a comment on human nature and interpersonal relationships.

Famous Sayings: #11 — ‘People in Glass Houses…’

May 22, 2016

“People in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.”

Such a stunning image.

A got a late start to this post, as I was working on one I have scheduled tomorrow.

Anyway, maybe this topic speaks to me because of recent events.

An alternate to this saying is, “Those who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.” Either way, let’s look at the origin of this famous saying.