[Ads-l] Ax/Tree proverb

[ADSGarson O'Toole]

Barry Popik previously explored this topic. He has the following two
pertinent webpages:

“When the axe came into the forest, the trees said: ‘The handle is one
of us’” (proverb)
https://barrypopik.com/blog/when_the_axe_came_into_the_forest


“The forest was shrinking, but the trees kept voting for the axe
because its handle was made of wood…”
https://barrypopik.com/blog/the_forest_was_shrinking_but_the_trees

On Fri, Sep 20, 2024 at 4:57 PM ADSGarson O'Toole
<adsgarsonotoole at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Interesting topic, JL. Here is a preliminary exploration using
> keywords in the xtwitter database.
>
> [Begin xtweet info]
> https://x.com/chirag/status/791091440
> Chirag Patnaik @chirag
> From the forest itself comes the handle for the axe...
> 9:51 AM · Apr 17, 2008
> [End xtweet info]
>
> [Begin xtweet info]
> https://x.com/kkartikeya/status/854155285
> kkartikeya @kkartikeya
> When the axe entered the forest, the trees said, "The handle is one of us!"
> 7:26 PM · Jul 9, 2008
> [End xtweet info]
>
> [Begin xtweet info]
> https://x.com/Moenypenny/status/1006320593
> Cat City @Moenypenny
> When the axe came into the forest, one of the trees said to the
> others,"Look, the handle is one of us"
> 6:51 PM · Nov 14, 2008
> [End xtweet info]
>
> [Begin xtweet info]
> https://x.com/BenShaw/status/1922096076
> Ben Shaw @BenShaw
> RT @quotesnack: When the axe came to the forest the trees said the
> handle is one of us -Proverb (May be Turkish or African)
> 5:56 AM · May 26, 2009
> [End xtweet info]
>
> [Begin xtweet info]
> https://x.com/longwall26/status/319138405759991808
> Jason @longwall26
> The fact that axe handles are made of wood is the ultimate "fuck you" to trees.
> 1:24 PM · Apr 2, 2013
> [End xtweet info]
>
> [Begin xtweet info]
> https://x.com/SaifRRahman/status/439811388262055937
> Saif Rahman @SaifRRahman
> Old Turkish proverb ~ When the axe came into the forest the trees said
> dont worry the handle is one of us
> 12:16 PM · Mar 1, 2014
> [End xtweet info]
>
> [Begin xtweet info]
> https://x.com/rainingglobe/status/794321591211393024
> Mpls Anita - Blue is the Majority...Vote like it!! @rainingglobe
> When the axe came into the forest, the trees said, it's okay, the
> handle is one of us.   In other words, TRUMP = AXE & GOP = TREES.
> 7:33 PM · Nov 3, 2016
> [End xtweet info]
>
> [Begin xtweet info]
> https://x.com/kimcentt/status/920634774720573445
> Vincent 'Kimcent' Kimutai @kimcentt
> Q: Y r our forests disappearing?
> A: Because our trees keep saying: "We will vote 4 the axe; the handle
> is from our tribe". Wafula Chebukati
> 8:56 AM · Oct 18, 2017
> [End xtweet info]
>
> [Begin xtweet info]
> https://x.com/Jomba_16/status/920674723977138176
> Land Lord @Jomba_16
> Q: Why are our forests disappearing?
> A: Because our trees keep saying: "We will vote for the axe; the
> handle is from our tribe".
> 11:35 AM · Oct 18, 2017
> [End xtweet info]
>
> [Begin xtweet info]
> https://x.com/calvinebarongo/status/920618406663147521
> Barongo 🇮🇹🇧🇪 @calvinebarongo
> Q: Why are our forests disappearing?
> A: Because our trees keep saying: We will vote for the axe; the handle
> is from our tribe
> @bernard_omari
> 7:51 AM · Oct 18, 2017
> [End xtweet info]
>
> [Begin xtweet info]
> https://x.com/Realmadiehe/status/921041951490789376
> Addley @Realmadiehe
> When the trees in the forest say; We will vote for the axe because the
> handle is one of our own
> Result...👇
>  #PatriotismKE
> #EmbaFomNiUhuRuto
> 11:54 AM · Oct 19, 2017
> [End xtweet info]
>
> [Begin xtweet info]
> https://x.com/SonOfNyamiwa/status/921774090486190082
> Hanny Nyamiwa @SonOfNyamiwa
> If the trees kept voting for the axe becoz the handle is from their
> tribe we'd have no forests
> @xtiandela
> 12:24 PM · Oct 21, 2017
> [End xtweet info]
>
> [Begin xtweet info]
> https://x.com/MbuyiZa/status/930145615580925953
> Father of 3 girls and a son. @MbuyiZa
> The forest was at a loss as to why its tree population was shrinking.
> Then it dawned upon the forest that the trees kept voting for the axe
> believing it was an ally since the handle was one of its own.
> ~ Anon
> 1:49 PM · Nov 13, 2017 from Diepkloof, South Africa
> [End xtweet info]
>
> Garson
>
> On Fri, Sep 20, 2024 at 10:03 AM Jonathan Lighter
> <wuxxmupp2000 at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >  A lot of Internet discussion about what is said to be a Turkish proverb:
> >
> >  "And though the forest was shrinking, the trees kept voting for the axe,
> > for the axe was clever and convinced the trees that since his handle was
> > made of wood, he was one of them."
> >
> > JL
> > --
> > "If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the truth."
> >
> > ------------------------------------------------------------
> > The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org