Surprisingly Smart Lessons From Clichés

By Lisette Mejia

Updated on 2/4/2014 at 5:54 AM

Clichés usually get the eye roll, but the truth is that many of them actually hold true. Why else would they be used over and over again? Here are a few that we can all learn lessons from, especially if we think of them in terms of our career or money aspirations.

  • Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Everyone's been deceived or disappointed by someone, but we should see it as learning lesson and know better the second time around.
  • Let's all agree to disagree. Sometimes the only thing to do when no one will give up their side of the argument is to move on.
  • Think outside the box. How many interviewers have heard this one? The point is still valuable: be bold (and not afraid to fail) when it comes to ideas.
  • A penny saved is a penny earned. This doesn't necessarily advocate for being frugal, but is does reflect the importance of saving.
  • Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Channeling all our efforts into one thing (a job, a relationship) means we might miss other important opportunities.
  • Don't count your chickens before they're hatched. The lesson here: wait until something you want has really happened before assuming it will.
  • There's no use crying over spilled milk. Moving on from a disappointment isn't the easiest thing to do, but sometimes it's the only option, and we should accept that.
  • You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. Translation: it's easier to get people on your side by being nice than by being confrontational.
  • Don't put the cart before the horse. We could all benefit from thinking ahead and having a plan before setting out to accomplish something.
  • The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. Reaching life's big goals often starts with baby steps, and we shouldn't expect a big promotion or a new house to come without hard work.
  • You have to stand for something, or you'll fall for anything. One interpretation: the best way to avoid being fooled is to have your own set of core values and beliefs.

Do you have any favorites of your own?