give half a proverb to a child, watch the result ...

humanity made decades to come up with some wise sayings to be used as guides in the art of living, but sometimes, some little beings, with very limited knowledge & innocent look to the world, may disclose a version of reality that could surprise the most experienced of us, thanks to its simplicity & accuracy.

what did a first grade school teacher in virginia, was presenting each of the 6 years old children in her classroom the first half of a well-known proverb and asked them to come up with the remainder of the proverb. here are their answers:

1. as you shall make your bed so shall you ... mess it up.
2. better to be safe than ... punch a 5th grader.
   
3. don't change horses ... until they stop running.
   
4. strike while the ... bug is close.
5. it's always darkest before ... daylight saving time.
   it is always darkest before ... I open my eyes.
   
6. never underestimate the power of ... termites.
7. a rolling stone ... plays the guitar.
   
8. a bird in the hand is ... a real mess.
9. it is better to light one candle than to ... waste electricity.
   it is better to light one candle than to ... light an explosive.
10. you have nothing to fear but ... your principal.
    you have nothing to fear but ... homework.
11. if you can't stand the heat ... don't start the fireplace.
    if you can't stand the heat ... go swimming.
12. the squeaking wheel gets ... annoying.
13. to err is human ... to eat a muskrat is not.
14. I think, therefore I ... get a headache.
15. early to bed and early to rise ... is first in the bathroom.
16. a journey of a thousand miles begins with a ... blister.
17. there is nothing new under the ... bed.
18. the grass is always greener ... when you leave the sprinkler on.
    the grass is always greener ... when you put manure on it.
19. don't count your chickens ... it takes too long.
20. you can lead a horse to water but ... how?
21. don't bite the hand that ... looks dirty.
22. no news is ... impossible.
23. a miss is as good as a ... mr.
24. you can't teach an old dog new ... math.
25. if you lie down with dogs, you'll ... stink in the morning.
26. love all, trust ... me.
27. the pen is mightier than the ... pigs.
28. an idle mind is ... the best way to relax.
29. where there's smoke there's ... pollution.
30. happy is the bride who ... gets all the presents.
31. a penny saved is ... not much.
32. two's company, three's ... the musketeers.
33. don't put off till tomorrow what ... you put on to go to bed.
    never put off 'til tomorrow what you ... should have done yesterday.
    
34. laugh and the whole world laughs with you, cry and ... you have to blow your nose.
    laugh and the world laughs with you, cry and ... someone yells, "shut up!"
    
35. there are none so blind as ... stevie wonder.
36. children should be seen and not ... spanked or grounded.
37. if at first you don't succeed ... get new batteries.
38. you get out of something only what you ... see in the picture on the box.
39. when the blind lead the blind ... get out of the way.
40. better late than ... pregnant.
    

for those who don't know some of the proverbs, I mean the real 1st & 2nd parts of them, & are curious about them, here they are:

1. as you shall make your bed so shall you lie there.
   
2. better to be safe than sorry!
3. don't change horses in the middle of the stream.
4. strike while the irony is hot.
5. it's always darkest before the dawn.
6. never underestimate the power of a kind word or deed.
   never underestimate the power of a woman.
7. a rolling stone gathers no moss.
   
8. a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
   
9. it is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.
   
10. you have nothing to fear but fear itself.
    
11. if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.
    
12. the squeaking wheel gets the grease.
    
13. to err is human, to forgive, divine.
    
14. I think, therefore I am.
    
15. early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.
    
16. a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
    
17. there is nothing new under the sun.
    
18. the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.
    
19. don't count your chickens before they are hatched.
    
20. you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink.
21. don't bite the hand that feeds you.
22. no news is good news.
23. a miss is as good as a mile.
24. you can't teach an old dog new tricks.
25. if you lie down with dogs, you'll rise with fleas.
26. love all, trust few, do wrong to none. (shakespeare)
27. the pen is mightier than the sword.
28. an idle mind is the devil's workshop.
29. where there's smoke there's fire.
30. happy is the bride who the sun shines on.
31. a penny saved is a penny earned.
32. two's company, three's a crowd.
33. don't put off till tomorrow what you can do today.
34. laugh and the whole world laughs with you, cry and you cry alone.
35. there are none so blind as those who won't see.
36. children should be seen and not heard.
37. if at first you don't succeed, try, try again.
38. you get out of something only what you put into it.
39. when the blind lead the blind both shall fall into the ditch.
40. better late than never.

ps: unlike with the one-second taser burst story, this time I don't care if this story is real or just another urban legend, the most important is to have fun ;)