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Criss-Cross Proverbs

 

Part One: Review Parallel Proverbs

 

You've already seen proverbs that are based on parallel pairs, in this basic pattern: 

A1-A2 | B1-B2

 

Hodie mihi, cras tibi.

Today, for me; tomorrow, for you.

 

Quantum potes, tantum aude.

Dare as much as you are able. 

 

Mors sequitur, vita fugit.

Death pursues; life flees.

(This is a profound one. Death is going to chase us down no matter how hard we try to escape, and meanwhile life is running away fast - and getting away from us!)

 

Make sure you understand how these parallel proverbs work before you proceed to the criss-cross proverbs.

 

Part Two: Introduction to Criss-Cross Proverbs

 

In a criss-cross proverb, you  still have two parallel pairs, but what happens is that the order of the second pair is REVERSED. You are using the exact same words, so the meaning is the same, but this criss-cross word order gives a different kind of emphasis to your Latin words.

 

Criss-Cross Pattern: In the criss-cross pattern, B2 comes before B1 in the second pair: A1-A2 | B2-B1

 

Mors sequitur, fugit vita.

A1 - A2, B2 - B1

Death pursues; life flees.

 

The first pair follow the order noun-verb (mors sequitur), but the second pair uses the inverted order verb-noun (fugit vita). You can see the difference clearly if you compare the parallel form with the criss-cross form:

 

Parallel: Mors sequitur, vita fugit. Death pursues; life flees.

Criss-cross: Mors sequitur, fugit vita. Death pursues; life flees.

 

Notice that the English translation is the same for both versions! That is because it is usually impossible to reflect Latin word order in English translation. So, you need focus on the Latin to see - and hear! - the difference between the two styles. Try reading the parallel version and the criss-cross version out loud so that you can hear the difference between them.

 

The technical term for this criss-cross type of word pattern is chiasmus. Sometimes you will also see the adjectival form of this word, chiastic. The word "chiasmus" comes from the Greek word "chi," which is the name for the letter X in the Greek alphabet. The idea is that the criss-cross pattern of chiasmus is like the letter X:

 

A1 - A2

   X

B2 - B1

 

So, you can call these criss-cross proverbs, or you can call them chiastic proverbs. Regardless of the name, the important thing is that you see the reversal in the word order that makes them special.

 

Part Three: Examples

 

To help you see the criss-cross pattern in these examples, I've marked the A1 and B1 terms in blue, and the A2 and B2 terms in red. I hope that will help you to see the pattern more clearly.

 

Mors lupi agnis vita.

The death of the wolf is life to the lambs.

 

The proverb is based on two contrasting pairs: mors as opposed to vita, and lupi as opposed to agnis. Once again, you might want to compare the parallel version and the criss-cross version to see the difference:

 

Parallel: Mors lupi vita agnis. The death of the wolf is life to the lambs.

Criss-cross: Mors lupi agnis vita. The death of the wolf is life to the lambs.

 

For this proverb, I think the criss-cross version is much more exciting, because now the wolf and the lambs are right next to each other! It's intense!

 

Here are some more examples of basic criss-cross proverbs:

 

Multa audi, dic pauca.

Listen to many things; say few things.

 

Aliena pericula cautiones nostrae.

Other people's risks are our warnings.

 

Satis eloquentiae, sapientiae parum.

Plenty of fancy talk, very little wisdom.

 

You can also add in other words, such as relative pronouns, to coordinate the two parts of the criss-cross proverb. Here are some examples:

 

Qui seminat ventum, turbinem metet.

He who sows the wind, will reap the whirlwind.

 

Omnes qui acceperint gladium, gladio peribunt.

All who would take up the sword, will die by the sword.

 

You can also use adverbs or other conjunctions to coordinate the criss-cross phrases:

 

Cum vinum intrat, exit sapientia.

When wine comes in, wisdom goes out.

 

Dum felis dormit, saliunt mures.

While the cat sleeps, the mice leap.

(Compare the familiar English saying, "When the cat's away, the mice all play.")

 

Non semper aestas erit; venit hiems.

It will not always to summer; winter is coming.

 

Perdes maiora, minora nisi servaveris.

You will lose the greater things, if you don't take care of the lesser things.

 

Sometimes the parallel phrases are both connected to a word which does "double duty" and does not have to be repeated. Here are some examples where there is a verb shared between the two criss-cross phrases:

 

Scribere scribendo, dicendo dicere disces.

You will learn to write by writing; you will learn to speak by speaking.

 

Famam curant multi, pauci conscientiam.

Many people  are concerned  about their reputation, few about their conscience.

 

Bos currum trahit, non bovem currus.

The ox pulls the cart; the cart does not pull the ox.

 

Here is an example where there is a shared subject between the criss-crossed verbs:

 

Ducunt volentem Fata, nolentem trahunt.

The Fates lead a person who is willing; someone who is not willing, they drag.

 

Here is an example where there is a noun shared between the criss-crossed adjectives:

 

Nascimur uno modo, multis morimur.

We are born in one way; we die in many.

 

Sometimes there are multiple words shared between the criss-cross phrases, as here:

 

Celerem habet ingressum amor, regressum tardum.

Love makes a swift entrance, and a slow exit.

 

Part Four: Componamus!

 

You can use some of the proverbs cited above as patterns to create your own criss-cross sayings.

 

MULTA-PAUCA

 

Model Proverb:

Multa audi, dic pauca.

Listen to many things; say few.

 

This saying is based on the opposition between many things and few things. You can replace the imperative verbs with other verbs to create a criss-cross saying. For example, here's one I made up:

Multa considera, elige pauca.

Consider many things; choose few.

 

You don't have to use imperatives; other verb forms work fine, too! Here's another example I made up:

Multa considero, eligo pauca.

I consider many things; I choose few things.

 

Try creating some criss-cross proverbs of your own, based on this model:

Multa ______________, ______________ pauca.

Multa ______________, ______________ pauca.

Multa ______________, ______________ pauca.

 

MULTI-PAUCI

 

Model Proverb:

Famam curant multi, pauci conscientiam.

Many people are concerned about their reputation, few about their conscience.

 

This saying is based on the opposition between what many people are concerned about, as opposed to what few people are concerned about. You can replace the objects of the verb  with other objects to create a criss-cross saying. For example, here's one I made up:

Victoriam curant multi, pauci iustitiam.

Many people worry about winning, few about justice.

 

Try creating some criss-cross proverbs of your own, based on this model:

 

______________ curant multi, pauci ______________.

______________ curant multi, pauci ______________.

______________ curant multi, pauci ______________.

 

SATIS-PARUM

 

Model Proverb:

Satis eloquentiae, sapientiae parum.

Plenty of fancy talk, very little wisdom.

 

This saying is based on a criss-cross opposition between a lot of something and a little of something. Notice that both these words take a genitive complement in Latin: a lot (of) something, and a little (of) something. You can replace the genitive nouns with other genitive nouns to create a criss-cross saying. For example:

Satis pecuniae, laetitiae parum.

Plenty of money, very little joy.

 

Try creating some criss-cross proverbs of your own, based on this model:

 

Satis ______________, ______________ parum.

Satis ______________, ______________ parum.

Satis ______________, ______________ parum.

 

INTRAT-EXIT

 

Model Proverb:

Cum vinum intrat, exit sapientia.

When wine comes in, wisdom goes out.

 

This saying is based on a criss-cross opposition between how one things departs when another things arrives. You can replace the subjects of these two verbs to create a criss-cross saying. For example, here's one I made up:

Cum invidia intrat, exit amor.

When envy comes in, love goes out.

 

You can use plurals if you want, too - or mix plural and singular. Here's an example I made up with a plural noun in the first phrase:

Cum rixae intrant, exit risus.

When quarrels come in, laughter goes out.

 

Try creating some criss-cross proverbs of your own, based on this model - and remember to change the verb form if one of the subjects is plural:

 

Cum ______________, intrat, exit ______________.

Cum ______________, intrat, exit ______________.

Cum ______________, intrat, exit ______________.