Aphorisms by Eero Suvilehto

Posted on November 29, 2011
Filed Under Aphorisms | 12 Comments

Sami Feiring, a Finnish aphorist and charter member of the World Aphorism Organization, sends translations of aphorisms by Eero Suvilehto. Born in 1947, Suvilehto is an adjunct professor of Bulgarian literature and has also made a career as a wrestler: He was Nordic Champion in 1972 in Greco-Roman wrestling. His two aphorism collections are Avattava varovasti (1998) and Kysyi sammakko tietä (2007). He also writes poetry, short stories, scholarly articles, and columns. A selection:

 

Artists, those poor students of life, crib from their teacher.

 

Borders stop the poor from coming in, not the rich from leaving.

 

In the theatre of life it’s the actors who direct.

 

All is said, but not to everyone.

 

The myth of individuality keeps the herd together.

 

Poverty is not a sin. It cannot be forgiven.

 

An army’s best friend is its enemy.

 

Children are mankind’s attempt to become wiser.

 

The child asks. You reply with your life.

 

History: Cosmetics of the past.

 

Weekend flings with nature: Who’s cheating whom?

 

When thoughts don’t sell, faces are offered for sale.

 

History teaches victims to become hangmen.

 

They pat you on the back, preferably with a knife.

Comments

12 Responses to “Aphorisms by Eero Suvilehto”

  1. marty rubin on December 1st, 2011 3:49 pm

    Poverty would be ideal if everyone were poor.

    History is life devoid of its beauty.

  2. Bill Peters on December 7th, 2011 2:39 pm

    Finland has all the best aphorists, one wonders why that is…pehaps its all the ice bergs.

  3. marty rubin on December 7th, 2011 11:23 pm

    It’s during a storm that the best songs get written.

  4. Diarmud O'Bryan on December 11th, 2011 10:56 am

    Peddle your own bike to oblivion, anyone else’s makes you saddle sore.

  5. marty rubin on December 16th, 2011 1:51 am

    The cruelest fate: martyr to a cause you don’t believe in.

  6. marty rubin on December 20th, 2011 12:58 am

    Truth is an outlaw in every country.

  7. marty rubin on December 24th, 2011 12:35 am

    Writing is like life: it goes on.

  8. marty rubin on January 4th, 2012 7:37 pm

    Philosophy is a maze with many entrances but no exit.

  9. Leonid S. Sukhorukov on January 8th, 2012 6:51 pm

    * How can the rich be generous when it is not easy for the generous to become rich?
    Leonid S. Sukhorukov

  10. Leonid S. Sukhorukov on January 8th, 2012 6:54 pm

    * Diplomacy: to head butt when bowing.
    Leonid S. Sukhorukov

  11. marty rubin on January 8th, 2012 7:19 pm

    Lies can’t get very far on their own. That’s why the printing was invented.

  12. Kirsi Sinisammal on April 11th, 2012 8:48 am

    After all, history is always here with us.

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