Alain de Lille was a notable twelfth-century French scholar known for his wisdom and intellect. His work Parabolae serves as a school textbook and contains 132 verses offering moral lessons on various subjects, such as greed, friendship, and the impact of words. The verses advise sticking to proven relationships, highlight the futility of hoarding wealth, emphasize the emotional damage of hurtful words, and remind that challenging times will eventually pass, encapsulating both practical and philosophical insights for living well.
Often a new road - not an old one - deceives the traveller. So too a new comrade - not an old one - deceives a comrade. Stick with those who've stood the test of time.
No water can quench a raging thirst, and no abundance satisfy a greedy heart. A ram does not lug his fleece around for himself, but for others. So too is a miser always amassing wealth for others.
Arrows can pierce armour. Mockery and nasty words can pierce my heart. Words hurt. Medieval scholars knew that too.
You can hope for day after night, sun after clouds, a smile and happiness after tears. A poetic reminder that bad times don't last.
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