«Don’t do good – won’t endure the evil» The Russian saying
There are resembling idioms, proverbs, fairytales in many languages, what says about the single cultural space.
There are sayings in Russian that show our national character.
For example we say:
Не делай добра, не получишь зла. /Ne delay dobra, ne poluchish
zla./
What says English language about this?
«If you want peace, be prepared for war».
That is Latin phrase:
“Si vis pacem, para bellum”
This thought is the work of Marcus Tullius Cicero:
“Si pace frui volumus bellum gerendum est»
and of Cornelius Nepos:
“Paritur pax bello”.
English language agrees to this: «If you want peace, be prepared for war”.
And Russian one says: “«Не делай добра – не получишь зла». (Don’t do good – won’t endure the
evil)
English theologian George Herbert (XVII century) said:
«Hell is full of good meaning and wishing». («Jacula prudentium»)
In 1775 English writer Samuel Johnson said:
«Hell is paved with good intentions».
The final draft of the proverb is: The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
Дорога в ад вымощена благими намерениями.
