While the praying mantis hunts the cricket, the sparrow waits

created by teryne

(idea) by teryne (1.4 y) (print) ? (I like it!) Tue Jan 27 2004 at 14:33:02

A Chinese proverb 螳螂捕蝉, 黄雀在后 (tang2 lang2 bu3 chan2, huang2 que4 zai4 hou4). A warning not to get too proud or smug with one's successes (or perceived successes) to forget or ignore any danger that lurks.

The story behind this proverb is quite easy to understand, and can be observed in the wild. As the praying mantis slowly approaches the unsuspecting cricket, it is unaware that a sparrow is behind him, only waiting for it to pounce on the cricket before it gobbles both up.

(Killing two insects with one peck! Clever bird.)

This proverb also refers to those who lack perspective and who focus only on plans to rip off other people, and forget that there are others plotting to profit from him as well. (The underlying message is to be street smart and to guard your back as well.)

Give me back my bike!	Melinda goes back in time and I get to watch	Options for smart kids in high school	Computer Science for Smart People
I turn my back for a second, and Erica gets married twice	Someone to Watch over Me	Being really smart and taking lots and lots of drugs	smart people are sexy
Back Bay street names	Drop the hamster and back away from the canary	I've bought a watch to time your beauty	When left long enough, students will always discuss cartoons they watched as kids
While Shepherds Watched	Stand back from the doors or they might kill you	I'm not smart enough to use this trash can	Praying mantis
Dynamic Street Smarts	Sparve	Anderson Cooper	How to skin a rattlesnake
You Better Watch Out, or the Insects Will Get You	If I were watched alone, I'd be considered insane	Back seat of a car	Back to square one

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