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MineralMan

(147,334 posts)
Mon Dec 3, 2018, 03:51 PM Dec 2018

When I taught Freshman English as a grad student,

we always discussed figures of speech like similes and metaphors. One of my favorite exercises in the course, which was really a class in reading and writing, was to ask the students to explain this bible verse, and to restate it in one simple sentence:

"Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself: Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof" from the Sermon on the Mount. Matthew 6: 34

The answers I got were all over the place. Then, we had a discussion about interpreting language. The exercise forced the students to think beyond the words and get to the meaning. The antiquated KJV language added to the puzzle.

So, what's your simple sentence?

34 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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When I taught Freshman English as a grad student, (Original Post) MineralMan Dec 2018 OP
Hmm, 4139 Dec 2018 #1
Don't borrow trouble. nocoincidences Dec 2018 #2
Uh...apologies in advance but it could be the opposite of this: yonder Dec 2018 #3
Yes. MineralMan Dec 2018 #10
On a more serious note: it hints of Buddha's influence on the New Testiment 4139 Dec 2018 #4
Very good. Yes. MineralMan Dec 2018 #16
don't sweat it, it will work out somehow gopiscrap Dec 2018 #5
Synonymic for: "Non fui, fui, non sum, non curo"? (nt) NeoGreen Dec 2018 #6
Epicurus, but not exactly equivalent. MineralMan Dec 2018 #13
I would tend to disagree... NeoGreen Dec 2018 #23
Water cleans everything. marylandblue Dec 2018 #7
LOL! MineralMan Dec 2018 #20
To do onto others sufficiently is to do onto self successfully sanatanadharma Dec 2018 #8
Multiple complex statements. MineralMan Dec 2018 #12
Focus. guillaumeb Dec 2018 #9
One day at a time. MineralMan Dec 2018 #11
Over simplified, dig deeper sanatanadharma Dec 2018 #14
No, I don't think so. MineralMan Dec 2018 #15
tomorrow will take care of itself. chill. pansypoo53219 Dec 2018 #17
Concise. Well done. MineralMan Dec 2018 #18
Baseball is 90 percent mental; the other half is physical Major Nikon Dec 2018 #19
Shit happens. n/t trotsky Dec 2018 #21
It does. Shower daily. MineralMan Dec 2018 #22
Some Dylan lyrics... BluesRunTheGame Dec 2018 #24
Nice! MineralMan Dec 2018 #25
Forget and do not worry about tomorrow, tomorrow will take care of itself. Thomas Hurt Dec 2018 #26
Very good. MineralMan Dec 2018 #27
Don't let the doorknob hit ya where the good Lord split ya underpants Dec 2018 #28
A stitch in time, saves nine. cachukis Dec 2018 #29
don't bother with the retirement fund. n/t Brainstormy Dec 2018 #30
Don't think. Do. nt SWBTATTReg Dec 2018 #31
That may be a little too narrow for that verse. MineralMan Dec 2018 #32
I agree. It was kind of stupid when I heard this at my place of work. It's kind of like the ... SWBTATTReg Dec 2018 #34
What first popped into my mind was PoindexterOglethorpe Dec 2018 #33

yonder

(9,998 posts)
3. Uh...apologies in advance but it could be the opposite of this:
Mon Dec 3, 2018, 04:17 PM
Dec 2018

"Don't stop thinking about tomorrow....
....Yesterday's gone, yesterday's gone"

-F.M.

4139

(1,976 posts)
4. On a more serious note: it hints of Buddha's influence on the New Testiment
Mon Dec 3, 2018, 04:17 PM
Dec 2018

“Ardently do today what must be done. Who knows? Tomorrow, death comes.”

NeoGreen

(4,033 posts)
23. I would tend to disagree...
Tue Dec 4, 2018, 12:08 PM
Dec 2018

...and would argue in the final analysis that both are saying, in effect, that only the day(s), within which I exist, matter(s).

The Greeks merely go one step further and exclaim: beyond that, I have no care.

Non curo.

sanatanadharma

(4,071 posts)
8. To do onto others sufficiently is to do onto self successfully
Mon Dec 3, 2018, 05:10 PM
Dec 2018

"Desire not the results of today's actions (karmas) that of their own nature will manifest reactions (karma phala), equal to the bad (and good) done."

Take therefore no thought the results of today's actions, thought for the things of itself (nature of things) will manifest reactions (the morrow), sufficient (equal) to the evil done today.

Bhagavad Gita 2:47 (variously translated from Sanskrit)

You have a right to perform your prescribed duties, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions. Never consider yourself to be the cause of the results of your activities, nor be attached to inaction.

You only have authority over action, not ever to the result. Don’t be motivated by the result, and don’t get attached to inaction.

You have the right to work only but never to its fruits. Let not the fruits of action be your motive, nor let your attachment be to inaction.

Your right is to perform your work, but never to the results. Never be motivated by the results of your actions, nor should you be attached to not performing your prescribed duties.

BluesRunTheGame

(1,783 posts)
24. Some Dylan lyrics...
Fri Dec 7, 2018, 09:23 AM
Dec 2018

The only thing I knew how to do
Was to keep on keepin’ on like a bird that flew
Tangled up in blue

underpants

(186,343 posts)
28. Don't let the doorknob hit ya where the good Lord split ya
Fri Dec 7, 2018, 09:36 AM
Dec 2018

Or as John Lennon once said "Life is what happens when you're making other plans"

SWBTATTReg

(24,001 posts)
34. I agree. It was kind of stupid when I heard this at my place of work. It's kind of like the ...
Fri Dec 7, 2018, 11:11 AM
Dec 2018

'be best' slogan by rump's wife.

PoindexterOglethorpe

(26,576 posts)
33. What first popped into my mind was
Fri Dec 7, 2018, 10:53 AM
Dec 2018

"Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we may die," which doesn't quite fit the sentiment, I know.

"Don't sweat the small stuff," likewise seems appropriate.

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