Q1: In which battle did Napoleon die?
A1: In his last battle.
Q2: Where was the Declaration of Independence signed?
A2: At the bottom of the page.
Q3: The River Ravi flows in which state?
A3: Liquid.
Q4: What is the main reason for divorce?
A4: Marriage.
Q5: What is the main reason for failure?
A5: Exams.
Q6: What can you never eat for breakfast?
A6: Lunch and dinner.
Q7: What looks like half an apple?
A7: The other half.
Q8: If you throw a red stone into the blue sea, what it will become?
A8: It will become wet.
Q9: How can a man go eight days without sleeping?
A9: No problem; he sleeps at night.
Q10: How can you lift an elephant with one hand?
A10: You will never find an elephant that has only one hand.
Q11: If you had three apples and four oranges in one hand and four apples and three oranges in other hand, what would you have?
A11: You would have very large hands.
Q12: If it took eight men ten hours to build a wall, how long would it take four men to build it?
A12: No time at all; the wall is already built.
Q13: How can you drop a raw egg onto a concrete floor without cracking it?
A13: Anyway you want, as concrete floors are very hard to crack.
Life has taught me what this piece illustrates well: that, sometimes, those who might appear to know the least in reality know far more than we think. In fact, life has pretty much confirmed for me that common sense trumps book learning most every day of the week.
This is why I so love the book of Proverbs in the Bible. It is a collection of hundreds of pithy little sayings, all of which are chock full of common sense advice for the living of life. Here are some of the more famous ones:
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; wisdom and instruction fools despise.
-- Proverbs 1:7
My son, forget not my teaching, keep in mind my commands; for many days, and years of life, and peace, will they bring you. Let not kindness and fidelity leave you; bind them around your neck; then will you win favor and good esteem before God and man.
-- Proverbs 3:1-4
Happy the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding!
-- Proverbs 3:13
The lips of an adulteress drip with honey, and her mouth is smoother than oil; but in the end she is as bitter as wormwood, as sharp as a two-edged sword.
-- Proverbs 5:3-4
There are six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to him; Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood; A heart that plots wicked schemes, feet that run swiftly to evil, The false witness who utters lies, and he who sows discord among brothers.
-- Proverbs 6:16-19
Men despise not the thief of he steals to satisfy his appetite when he is hungry; yet if he be caught he must pay back sevenfold; all the wealth of his house he may yield up.
-- Proverbs 6:30-31
Say to Wisdom, "You are my sister!" call Understanding, "Friend!"
-- Proverbs 7:4
A wise son makes his father glad, but a foolish son is a grief to his mother.
-- Proverbs 10:1
The slack hand impoverishes, but the hand of the diligent enriches.
-- Proverbs 10:4
Hatred stirs up disputes, but love covers all offenses.
-- Proverbs 10:12
The lips of the just know how to please, but the mouth of the wicked, how to pervert.
-- Proverbs 10:32
When pride comes, disgrace comes; but with the humble is wisdom.
-- Proverbs 11:2
Wealth is useless on the day of wrath, but virtue saves from death.
-- Proverbs 11:4
The virtue of the upright saves them, but the faithless are caught in their own intrigue.
-- Proverbs 11:6
A newsmonger reveals secrets, but a trustworthy man keeps a confidence.
-- Proverbs 11:13
Truly the evil man shall not go unpunished, but those who are just shall escape.
-- Proverbs 11:21
He who seeks the good commands favor, but he who pursues evil will have evil befall him.
-- Proverbs 11:27
He who loves correction loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.
-- Proverbs 12:1
A worthy wife is the crown of her husband, but a disgraceful one is like rot in his bones.
-- Proverbs 12:4
The plans of the just are legitimate; the designs of the wicked are deceitful.
-- Proverbs 12:5
Better a lowly man who supports himself than one of assumed importance who lacks bread.
-- Proverbs 12:9
The way of the fool seems right in his own eyes, but he who listens to advice is wise.
-- Proverbs 12:15
Truthful lips endure forever, the lying tongue, for only a moment.
-- Proverbs 12:19
A shrewd man conceals his knowledge, but the hearts of fools gush forth folly.
-- Proverbs 12:23
The diligent hand will govern, but the slothful will be enslaved.
-- Proverbs 12:24
He who guards his mouth protects his life; to open wide one's lips brings downfall.
-- Proverbs 13:3
One man pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.
-- Proverbs 13:7
Wealth quickly gotten dwindles away, but amassed little by little, it grows.
-- Proverbs 13:11
He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him takes care to chastise him.
-- Proverbs 13:24
Even by his neighbor the poor man is hated, but the friends of the rich are many.
-- Proverbs 14:20
He who oppresses the poor blasphemes his Maker, but he who is kind to the needy glorifies him.
-- Proverbs 14:31
The king favors the intelligent servant, but the worthless one incurs his wrath.
-- Proverbs 14:35
A mild answer calms wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
-- Proverbs 15:1
Every day is miserable for the depressed, but a lighthearted man has a continual feast.
-- Proverbs 15:15
He who is greedy of gain brings ruin on his own house, but he who hates bribes will live.
-- Proverbs 15:27
Better a little with virtue, than a large income with injustice.
-- Proverbs 16:8
Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained by virtuous living.
-- Proverbs 16:31
A patient man is better than a warrior, and he who rules his temper, than he who takes a city.
-- Proverbs 16:32
Better a dry crust with peace than a house full of feasting with strife.
-- Proverbs 17:1
Grandchildren are the crown of old men, and the glory of children is their parentage.
-- Proverbs 17:6
He who is a friend is always a friend, and a brother is born for the time of stress.
-- Proverbs 17:17
The fool takes no delight in understanding, but rather in displaying what he thinks.
-- Proverbs 18:2
A brother is a better defense than a strong city, and a friend is like the bars of a castle.
-- Proverbs 18:19
Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who make it a friend shall eat its fruit.
-- Proverbs 18:21
He who finds a wife finds happiness; it is a favor he receives from the Lord.
-- Proverbs 18:22
Some friends bring ruin on us, but a true friend is more loyal than a brother.
-- Proverbs 18:24
The false witness will not go unpunished, and he who utters lies will not escape.
-- Proverbs 19:5
The foolish son is ruin to his father, and the nagging of a wife is a persistent leak.
-- Proverbs 19:13
When a man walks in integrity and justice, happy are his children after him!
-- Proverbs 20:7
Even by his manners the child betrays whether his conduct is innocent and right.
-- Proverbs 20:11
A newsmonger reveals secrets; so have nothing to do with a babbler!
-- Proverbs 20:19
The glory of young men is their strength, and the dignity of old men is gray hair.
-- Proverbs 20:29
He who makes a fortune by a lying tongue is chasing a bubble over deadly snares.
-- Proverbs 21:6
He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor will himself also call and not be heard.
-- Proverbs 21:13
It is better to dwell in a wilderness than with a quarrelsome and vexatious wife.
-- Proverbs 21:19
Some are consumed with avarice all the day, but the just man gives unsparingly.
-- Proverbs 21:26
There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel, against the Lord.
-- Proverbs 21:30
Train a boy in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not swerve from it.
-- Proverbs 22:6
Injure not the poor because they are poor, nor crush the needy at the gate; for the Lord will defend their cause, and will plunder the lives of those who plunder them. Be not friendly with a hotheaded man, nor the companion of a wrathful man,
lest you learn his ways, and get yourself into a snare.
-- Proverbs 22:22-25
Listen to your father who begot you, and despise not your mother when she is old.
-- Proverbs 23:22
Let your father and mother have joy; let her who bore you exult.
-- Proverbs 23:25
A wise man is more powerful than a strong man, and a man of knowledge than a man of might;
for it is by wise guidance that you wage your war, and the victory is due to a wealth of counselors.
-- Proverbs 24:5-6
Be not a witness against your neighbor without just cause, thus committing folly with your lips.
-- Proverbs 24:28
Discuss your case with your neighbor, but another man's secret do not disclose;
lest, hearing it, he reproach you, and your ill repute cease not.
-- Proverbs 25:9-10
Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor's house, lest he have more than enough of you, and hate you.
-- Proverbs 25:17
The door turns on its hinges, the sluggard, on his bed!
-- Proverbs 26:14
Boast not of tomorrow, for you know not what any day may bring forth.
-- Proverbs 27:1
Let another praise you - not your own mouth; someone else - not your own lips.
-- Proverbs 27:2
He who seduces the upright in an evil way will himself fall into his own pit. [And blameless men will gain prosperity.]
-- Proverbs 28:10
The man who flatters his neighbor is spreading a net under his feet.
-- Proverbs 29:5
The rod of correction gives wisdom, but a boy left to his whims disgraces his mother.
-- Proverbs 29:15
Correct your son, and he will bring you comfort, and give delight to your soul.
-- Proverbs 29:17
When one finds a worthy wife, her value is far beyond pearls. Her husband, entrusting his heart to her, has an unfailing prize. She brings him good, and not evil, all the days of her life.
-- Proverbs 31:10-12
Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting; the woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
-- Proverbs 31:30
Learn these lessons, and I assure you that, whatever you make on exams, you will do just fine in the school of life.