Fatalistic traits in Finnish proverbs

Abstract

In this paper the author examines proverbs in Finnish language. For example, the verb luoda, which in modern Finnish has the basic meaning 'to create' with a strong Christian colouring, was obviously used earlier to express fatalistic ideas. Its primary meaning appears, for instance, in a laconic pro-verb from Perniö (in south-western Finland): Tam lua, literally "The oak creates", which is given the following explanation: It is the weather in January [tammikuu, month of oak] that in some way predetermines what the spring and the summer will be like.

“Make Hell While the Sun Shines”: Proverbial Rhetoric in Winston Churchill'sThe Second World War

“…There are more gems to be gleaned in the writings and speeches of Churchill than in the sayings of Mao or the observations of Machiavelli" (p. 263). 6 For proverbs expressing a fatalistic worldview see Kuusi (1967). 7 See Mieder and Bryan (1995) for precise references.…”