Τὸ σκαμβὸν ξύλον οὐδέποτ' ὀρθόν

the bent timber [is] never straight

Translated by David Whitehead27 Apr 2003Vetting: high5 revisions

24 words

This proverb is common and clear. It is deployed as a criticism of those attempting to rectify twisted timbers or affairs and profiting nothing.

Greek original · Adler’s text

Τὸ σκαμβὸν ξύλον οὐδέποτ' ὀρθόν· αὕτη ἡ παροιμία δημώδης ἐστὶ καὶ φανερά. τάττεται δὲ κατὰ τῶν διάστροφα ξύλα ἢ πράγματα πειρωμένων κατευθύνειν καὶ μηδὲν ὠφελούντων.

Betacode

*to\ skambo\n cu/lon ou)de/pot' o)rqo/n: au(/th h( paroimi/a dhmw/dhs e)sti\ kai\ fanera/. ta/ttetai de\ kata\ tw=n dia/strofa cu/la h)\ pra/gmata peirwme/nwn kateuqu/nein kai\ mhde\n w)felou/ntwn.

Notes

Likewise in Photius (tau396 Theodoridis), taken to come from Pausanias the Atticist (tau41); also several of the paroemiographers. Copied, in brief, to sigma 530.

Neighbouring entries

τ799Τορύνηladle, spatula, spoon τ800ΤόσιβιςTosibis τ801Τὸ σκαμβὸν ξύλον οὐδέποτ' ὀρθόνthe bent timber [is] never straight τ802Τὸ σὸν ὄναρ σοι διηγούμενοςdescribing your dream to you τ803Τοσοῦτονso much, this much

Revision history5 revisions · last 14 Jan 2014

14 Jan 2014Revised — David Whitehead
15 Aug 2011Revised — David Whitehead
1 May 2011more keywords — David Whitehead
1 Nov 2004augmented note — David Whitehead
1 Nov 2004set status — Catharine Roth
27 Apr 2003Translated — David Whitehead

Translation

Greek original · Adler’s text

Notes

Neighbouring entries

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