Often in a conversation without much thought, a proverb or proverb pops up. It is brighter, more aphoristic and wiser reflects what was said earlier and helps to more accurately shade it. The people who concluded concentrated thought in it figuratively generalized life experience in it. Further in the article, we will analyze by examples what the expression “break - not build” means.
Age of sayings
We are used to thinking that folk wisdom comes only from the depths of centuries. But in this case (we mean the proverb “to break - not to build”), this turns out to be wrong. It arose and has been used since the 2nd half of the 20th century. At least, earlier in the explanatory dictionaries it was not fixed.
One example of its use
Although the proverb “breaking - not building” is young, it can be remembered when speaking of the Parthenon. For almost ten years, the perfect construction of the architects Iktin and Kallikrath was created, and another seven to eight years were decorated with impeccable and impeccable sculptures and friezes of Phidias. The crown of creation of Greek geniuses stood on the top of the Acropolis in Athens and was dedicated to the virgin goddess, who patronized not only the city, but also the whole of Attica.
The statue of the goddess Athena Parthenos was made of gold and marble and has not been preserved to this day. For almost two thousand years, the Parthenon adorned the city until a war broke out between the European and Turkish armies in the middle of the 17th century. The Turks, who captured Athens, arranged a powder warehouse in the temple. Their garrison was small, and the Venetians invited them to surrender. The offer was rejected. Then the assault on the Acropolis began.
The traitor Turk told the Europeans that gunpowder was in the Parthenon, as the invaders were sure that the Europeans would not shell the temple. However, the Venetians were completely indifferent to the beauty and perfection, as well as the historical and cultural heritage of ancient Hellas. They were in a hurry to capture the city and, with just one shot, blew up the Parthenon and deprived the Turks of gunpowder supplies.
From the magnificent temple there were only ruins. Yes, breaking is not to build, and Europeans left the city, which, incidentally, a few months later was again occupied by Muslims. And Greece is a poor country, and it has not been able to restore the temple of Athena over the past centuries. The world community these days only in words promises help.
Costly curiosity
Absolutely fresh news tells about the incident at the Beijing airport on 06/12/2017. When the passengers took their places on the plane, the stewardess warned everyone that they could not be opened without the need for an emergency exit. Nevertheless, there was an inquisitive traveler who, while the plane had not yet taken off, opened it. She was curious what would come of it.
The flight was canceled as the ramp deteriorated. The police detained the lady for twelve days, and she would partly have to pay money for repairs, the total amount of which was fourteen thousand seven hundred dollars. The Chinese woman didn’t know our proverb “to break - not to build”, otherwise she would probably have thought in advance what might come out of her actions.
Case from the joke
Our travelers in a big company arrived in Thailand. They relaxed well in the evening at the bar, breaking the dishes and breaking all the furniture, and quietly retired to bed. Right on the full proverb: “breaking - not building, the soul does not hurt”, everyone calmly rested and did not hear that the typhoon began at night, which swept everything on the beach. And when the senior of the group, going out onto the balcony in the morning, saw the devastation, he grabbed his head: “We can’t pay for all this!”
Family relationship
Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis lived together for as many as fourteen years, and were not allowed to look into their family life.
However, time passed and, as it seemed to everyone, the happy couple broke up. Vanessa in later interviews admitted that she spent the effort to maintain a married life. But in this case, the efforts of one person, whether male or female, is not enough. Both spouses must take care of maintaining the marriage. And Johnny was too frivolous and, finally, both of them came to the conclusion that they should break up. This is how easy it is to break, and not build a house and a family - something that has been created for more than a decade.
Celebrity marriages are far from the standard of harmonious relations. However, exceptions do occur.
The opposite is the life of Cindy Crawford. Although her initial alliance with Richard Gere brought top models sheer disappointments. After living together for four years, they nevertheless parted. Cindy herself believes that the age difference of twelve years did not allow the couple to maintain marital relations. But then, becoming older, realizing what she wants from life, Cindy managed to build a strong family.
Her marriage has been going on for fifteen years. She has grown a son and a beautiful daughter, who is already on the catwalks.
And what about Gere? He was late, but found his happiness, which has lasted since 2002. The actor does not have time to look at the beauties around, as there is no such desire.
What is the meaning of the proverb “to break - not to build”
Its semantic series talks about the negative attitude towards the destruction of what is created by an individual person or community of people. The given examples are taken from life. Everyone can recall unsuccessful friendships, then turned into indifference and coldness. And, in this case, the expression “break - not build” has the meaning of condemnation.
To break anything, even a park bench, a piece of fence, to harm the beautiful flowers in the flowerbed, as graduates often do at the last call, is no merit. The creation process is much more difficult, which can cause approval and admiration, for example, the anniversary golden wedding of a couple who managed to create a family and are now proud not only of loving children, but also of their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.