One-liners... For Those in a Hurry

EXCEPT!

2005-08-07T11:38:00.000-07:00

"Except..." I really wish that this word--and all its synonyms--perish... except--of course--when it's used for righteousness' sake.

A translation of إلاّ

It's making me crazy!

2005-07-25T23:18:00.000-07:00

Both the killer and the killed are my brothers. Why doesn't anybody seem to understand this?

(Read also this headline)

A translation of هاتجنّن

Tolerance...

2005-01-14T11:21:00.000-08:00

ُAhmad Bahaa-el-Din, the late journalist, once wrote that the relationship between Christians and Muslims in Egypt will get better when they will accept the presence of a Buddhist temple in Egypt.

- A translation of سماحة

Poverty as wealth?ٌ

2004-11-06T16:28:00.000-08:00

"Poverty: wealth of the peoples" is a book by the African writer Albert Tévoédjre that I haven't read yet, but whose title doesn't cease to inspire me.

- A translation of الفقر غِنى

History !? (Four one-liners combo!)

2004-10-25T01:08:00.000-07:00

Old History: In the time of Omar Ibn-El-Khattab, Arabic troops liberated the North-African countries from the Roman oppressive occupation and brought these countries into light.

Recent History: In the time of George W. Bush, the U.S.-led neo-crusader coalition invaded Afghanistan and Iraq, commited war crimes and suppressed many revolts by these countrie' own peoples.

From an Arabic history book in 2010

---

Old History: In the time of Omar Ibn-El-Khattab, Arabic troops invaded North Africa to establish an Empire that lasted many centuries, suppressing many revolts by the native inhabitants of these lands and imposing many types of taxes.

Recent History: George W. Bush lead the coalition of the willing who liberated Afghanistan and Iraq from the oppressive regimes and the foreign terrorists that ruled them, and brought these countries into the light of freedom and democracy.

From an American history book in 2010

Relativism?

2004-10-19T20:39:00.000-07:00

A monk was scorned by his master as he asked to be allowed to smoke while praying; later, another monk was praised by the same master because he vowed to try to say his prayers while smoking!

- Adapted from a common story.

Experts' consensus

2004-10-14T19:35:00.000-07:00

Ten experts met in the first floor and unanimously denied the claims of a youngster living in the tenth floor that he could see a water spring behind the wall facing the building; the experts insisted that their measurements couldn't detect any water in the area.

Stupid!?

2004-09-25T23:58:00.000-07:00

When I asked him whether he was conservative or liberal, he answered that he was John; how stupid he is!

- A translation of غبي؟؟

Dictatorship?!

2004-09-25T23:05:00.000-07:00

In a bus carrying 50 politicians from all parties, the dictator driver suddenly decided to turn left to avoid hitting a pedestran and -instead- hit the pedestran's running dog; this unilateral decision angered the Green party's delegates!

Democracy?

2004-09-25T23:04:00.000-07:00

During a meeting of four men and two women, a majority of four approved and implemented a suggestion to rape the two women.

- A translation of ديمقراطيّة؟

Zeal

2004-09-21T23:21:00.000-07:00

"My religion is better than yours because it has more followers, less myths and will win at the end!"

'Wise' Adults

2004-09-21T23:19:00.000-07:00

"My country is better than your country because it has stronger economy, mightier military power and more freedom"

and...

Naïve Children?

2004-09-21T23:18:00.000-07:00

"My father is better than yours because he is richer, stronger (he can beat your dad) and he is always right"

but...

Lonely...

2004-09-19T23:19:00.000-07:00

Très chic!

2004-09-19T15:31:00.000-07:00

Disappointment

2004-09-18T19:14:00.001-07:00

I thought we were alike;
unfortunately, he is not!

- A translation of إحباط

An article to please all readers

2004-09-18T19:13:00.000-07:00

The end

Fear...

2004-09-18T19:12:00.001-07:00

I was so afraid of him that...
I killed him!

- A translation of خوف

But

2004-09-18T19:00:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow I will..., ..., ..., then, ..., ..., and ...., with all my ... because I ... seriously... and that's what I want as ..., ..., and... to ..., but today...

- A translation of لَكِن

Late Acknowledgement

2004-09-18T18:51:00.000-07:00

I want to acknowledge that I was inspired to write Arabic "one-liners" --which is a literal genre different from proverbs and wisdoms as you can see and will see-- by the work of an American Blogger who probably won't be able to understand them.

p.s. That's one reason why I'm translating them into English (which is my obviously not my first language)!

- A translation of إحقاقاً للحق

Son of a Joke!

2004-09-18T18:43:00.000-07:00

One of the wonders of the Egyptian Arabic language is that when someone is known by a virture or sin, they call him its father "Abu," e.g., father of generosity, of understanding, of ignorance; however, a funny man who knows how to joke is called a 'Son of a joke' (Ibn nokta)!

- A translation of ابن نُكتة

In a hurry

2004-09-18T18:36:00.000-07:00

It's no longer for my reader's sake; I'm also in a hurry so I now prefer to write the "one-liners": the only writings that can be read at any time, although I wonder whether it makes any sense!

- A slightly altered translation of مستعجل

Anthony de Mello

2004-09-18T18:33:00.000-07:00

Anthony de Mello, an Indian Jesuit priest and one of the pioneers of brevity, has reconciled in his short stories between the oriental spiritual heritage and the Western Jesuit tradition; to comment on his stories, he used short one-liners that had incredible penetrating effects on the readers, and that gave the stories completely new meaning.

- A translation of أنتوني دى ميللو

Gibran Khalil Gibran

2004-09-18T18:25:00.000-07:00

How can I write effective brief sentences without learning this art from Gibran Khalil Gibran, the Lebanese writer and philospher who knew how to write sentences that gather magic, depth, mystery and clarity?

- A translation of جبران خليل جبران

"Blessed are the foolish; they shall be happy!" Naguib Mahfouz

2004-09-18T17:51:00.000-07:00

Which single long sentence can describe the main thought with which I'm obsessed these days, i.e., that the world is perishing because of foolishness of many, while those whom I consider wise are getting ready to drink from the River of Foolishness* to be able to survive; isn't adaptation -not struggle- the only way to survive according to the evolved Evloution Theory?

* Refering to a short story by Gibran K.Gibran
p.s. This sentence was difficult to translate since Arabic punctuation can make such long sentences more readable.

- A translation of طوبى للحمقى فإنّهم سعداء- نجيب محفوظ

Complete Sentence??

2004-09-18T17:30:00.000-07:00

A complete sentence can be long sometims; otherwise, how can I express all what I want in one line, no more?

- A translation of جملة مفيدة

Be Brief!

2004-09-18T16:16:00.000-07:00

To be understood, explain; to be listened to, be brief!

- A translation of باختصار