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APAD: Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

最西边的岛上 2024-02-27 07:36:01 ( reads)

(complicated) Etymology
Attested since 1546 in a book of English proverbs by John Heywood. Perhaps translated from or influenced by French Qui onques rien n'enprist riens n'achieva (“One who never undertook anything never gained anything”). Though a translation, a similar phrase of "Nothing ventured, nothing have." appears in Sir George Dasent's translation of the Icelandic text "The Saga of the Burnt Njal" (events occurring between 960 and 1020 A.D.), suggesting it may have gone back much further. However, certain translations of Herodotus 7.9 include "if nothing is ventured in life, then nothing is gained". Suggesting either the phrase or something similar stretches to even before 960AD.

(simple) Meaning:
If one takes no risks, one will not gain any benefits.
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I don't think I'm a risk-taker.  But looking back, I've taken so many risks in life, some small, some not.  One example was jumping into the deep end of a swimming pool before I could float (ok, I was forced).  鬼脸
 
What were yours? 
 

跟帖(23)

移花接木

2024-02-27 07:46:37

嗯,这句听起来就正规, no pain no gain就很随意

最西边的岛上

2024-02-27 09:49:52

是的,dear Google did mention that, too. ;-) Thx!

7grizzly

2024-02-27 09:12:21

I once ran, tumbled, and crashed down a river bluff.

7grizzly

2024-02-27 09:14:36

Ventured limbs, gained torn trousers. Not a smart trade :-))

盈盈一笑间

2024-02-27 09:31:23

You’ll be careful next time you encounter danger, right?

盈盈一笑间

2024-02-27 09:33:50

Once we suffer a loss, we gain wisdom. :))

7grizzly

2024-02-27 09:47:37

Some have a proclivity, a craving, to run down slopes. There

7grizzly

2024-02-27 09:47:54

must be a word for it.

盈盈一笑间

2024-02-27 18:01:51

那是对自由的向往。“奔跑吧,兄弟“。

盈盈一笑间

2024-02-27 18:02:46

国内某娱乐节目

最西边的岛上

2024-02-27 09:55:36

hahaha (oops, I shouldn't laugh ;-). I'm sure U've gained

最西边的岛上

2024-02-27 09:56:08

more respect towards river bluffs since ;-)

7grizzly

2024-02-27 10:00:28

Yes! 15 yrs later, I learned how to run up/down steep slopes

盈盈一笑间

2024-02-27 09:23:18

像是英文的文言版。学习了~~

最西边的岛上

2024-02-27 09:48:05

谢谢盈盈。我也是学到的哈。活到何时学到何时 ;-)

方外居士

2024-02-27 09:53:17

富贵险中求

7grizzly

2024-02-27 09:58:57

想起了富贵少爷。龙二公审枪毙后:好险啊 :-)))

最西边的岛上

2024-02-27 10:02:09

谢译文。接你下文:“富贵险中求,也在险中丢,求时十之一,丢时十之九”。求之不易,不易哈 ;-)

CBA7

2024-02-27 10:04:07

不入虎穴,焉得虎子!学习了,谢谢西岛分享。

最西边的岛上

2024-02-27 10:06:36

谢谢小西美眉!

CBA7

2024-02-27 10:27:13

哈哈哈,突然意识到我们是本家啊,小西和西岛,握手握手!

妖妖灵

2024-02-27 11:17:03

Now I know why I still don't know how to swim.:)

最西边的岛上

2024-02-27 11:19:20

Hahaha. Come with me, I will show U how to jump ;-)