Often in a conversation, without much thought, some proverb or saying pops up. It is brighter, more aphoristic and wiser reflects what was said earlier and helps to shade it more colorfully. The people, who concluded a concentrated thought in it, figuratively generalized life experience in it. Further in the article, we will use examples to analyze what the expression “break - do not build” means.
The age of sayings
We used to think that folk wisdom comes only from the depths of centuries. But in this case (we mean the proverb “breaking is not building”), this turns out to be incorrect. It originated and has been used since the 2nd half of the 20th century. At least, it was not recorded in explanatory dictionaries earlier.
One example of its use
Although the proverb “to break is not to build” is young, it can be remembered when speaking about the Parthenon. It took almost ten years to create the perfect structure of the architects Iktin and Kallikrates, and for another seven or eight years it was decorated with impeccable and impeccable sculptures and friezes of Phidias. The crown of creation of the Greek geniuses stood ontop of the Acropolis in Athens and was dedicated to the virgin goddess, who patronized not only the city, but the whole of Attica.
The statue of the goddess Athena Parthenos was made of gold and marble and has not survived 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, set up a gunpowder warehouse in the temple. Their garrison was small, and the Venetians offered them to surrender. The offer was rejected. Then the assault on the Acropolis began.
The traitor Turk told the Europeans that there was gunpowder in the Parthenon, as the invaders were sure that the Europeans would not bombard the temple. However, the Venetians were completely indifferent to 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 they blew up the Parthenon and deprived the Turks of gunpowder.
From the magnificent temple there were only ruins. Yes, breaking is not building, and the Europeans left the city, which, by the way, was again occupied by Muslims a few months later. And Greece is a poor country, and over the past centuries it has not been able to restore the temple of Athena. The world community today only verbally promises help.
Costly curiosity
Completely fresh news about the incident at the Beijing airport on 2017-12-06. When the passengers took their seats on the plane, the stewardess warned everyone not to openwithout 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 because the ladder was damaged. The lady was detained by the police for twelve days, and she will have to partly pay money for repairs, the total amount of which is fourteen thousand seven hundred dollars. The Chinese woman did not know our proverb “breaking is not building”, otherwise she would probably have thought in advance what might come of her actions.
A case from a joke
Our travelers arrived in Thailand in a big company. They had a good evening relaxing in the bar, breaking the dishes and breaking all the furniture, and calmly retired to sleep. Right according to the full proverb: “to break - not to build, the soul does not hurt”, everyone calmly rested and did not hear that a typhoon had begun at night, which scattered everything on the beach. And when the leader of the group, going out on the balcony in the morning, saw the devastation, he clutched his head: “We can’t pay for all this!”.
Family Relations
Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis lived together for nothing more than fourteen years, and no one was 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 what efforts she made to preserve married life. But in this case, the efforts of one person, be it a man or a woman, are not enough. Both spouses musttake care of the marriage. And Johnny acted too frivolously and, finally, they both came to the conclusion that they should break up. That's how easy it is to break, not build a house and a family - something that has been created for decades.
Celebrity marriages are far from the standard of harmonious relationships. However, there are exceptions.
Cindy Crawford's life is just the opposite. Although her initial alliance with Richard Gere brought the top model complete disappointment. They, after living together for four years, nevertheless broke up. Cindy herself believes that the age difference of twelve years did not allow the couple to maintain marital relations. But then, getting 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 up a son and a beautiful daughter, who is already on the catwalks.
What about Gir? He is late, but he found his happiness, which has lasted since 2002. The actor has no time to look at the beauties around, just as there is no such desire.
What is the meaning of the proverb “breaking is not building”
Its semantic series tells about the negative attitude towards the destruction of what is created by an individual or a community of people. The examples given are taken from real life. Everyone can recall unsuccessfully formed friendships, then turned into indifference and coldness. And, in this case, the expression "breaking - not building" has the meaning of condemnation.
To break anything, even a park bench, a piece of a fence, to harm beautiful flowers in a flower bed, likethis is often done by graduates at the last call - there is no merit in this. Much more difficult is the process of creation, 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 of not only loving children, but also grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
