Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for GREED returned 16 results.
OLD JEWISH SAYING
THE EYES ARE THE PART WHICH PUTS MOST OBSTACLES IN ONE'S WAY.
Where learned: DETROIT
Keyword(s): HUMAN BODY
James Callow Keyword(s): GREED?
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 00-00-1968
WHY PEOPLE HAVE TO WORK IN ORDER TO LIVE
WHY MUST PEOPLE WORK IN ORDER TO LIVE? WELL, AT ONE TIME GOD HAD
PLACED THE SKY SO NEAR TO THE GROUND THAT WHENEVER A PERSON WAS
HUNGRY AND WANTED SOMETHING TO EAT HE ONLY HAD TO BREAK ALL HE WANTED
TO EAT FROM THE LOVELY-BLUE SKY AND EAT. AFTER PEOPLE STARTED
GETTING TOO FAT AND LAZY, THEY WOULD BREAK OFF HUGE PIECES OF THE SKY
AND EAT ONLY SOME PORTIONS AND THROW THE REST ON THE GROUND AND WALK
AWAY. NOW THE LORD DIDN'T LIKE THIS. HE WANTED EVERYBODY TO HAVE
PLENTY TO EAT BUT HE DIDN'T WANT THEM TO TAKE THINGS TOO LIGHTLY;
"TAKE ONLY WHAT YOU'RE ABLE TO EAT," HE WARNED THEM. THE PEOPLE
FOLLOWED HIS ADVICE FOR A SHORT WHILE, THEN RETURNED TO WHAT THEY
WERE DOING BEFORE, BREAKING OFF MORE THAN THEY COULD EAT. THE LORD
DECIDED TO MOVE THE SKY MILES AWAY SO NOBODY COULD GET TO IT, AND IN
ORDER TO EAT, EVERY SOUL HAD TO WORK HARD AT THE LAND.
Submitter comment:
I HAVE HEARD THIS STORY AS TOLD BY A REGULAR CHURCH-GOER; IT WAS TOLD
BASICALLY THE SAME.
Where learned: ALABAMA
James Callow Keyword(s): GREED
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Creation and Order of Universe BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 00-00-1930
IF A MAN COULD HAVE HALF OF HIS WISHES, HE WOULD DOUBLE HIS TROUBLES
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; MACKENZIE HIGH SCHOOL
Keyword(s): GREED
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 10-12-1965
RIDDLE
WHAT DO WEEDS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE IN COMMON?
IF YOU GIVE THEM AN INCH THEY WILL TAKE A YARD.
Where learned: NEW YORK CITY ; NEW YORK
James Callow Keyword(s): GREED ; MEASUREMENT
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 05-00-1990
Once upon a time there lived an old man who lived near the
ocean. And every day he would go fishing to pass the time.
One day he caught a mermaid. She begged him to be let go and
in return he would be granted three wishes. He agreed, and
wished first for a new house with all of the conveniences of
life. Second he wished for a boat and thirdly, he wished to
be immortal. The third wish was impossible to grant. "Only
god can control such things," she said. But the old man
refunded against her word and forced the mermaid to grant his
third and final wish. So, in fear of being kept out of the
water for too long the mermaid attempted to grant his final
request. When his request was granted the old man immediately
felt a rush of pain all throughout his body and yelled in
agony. He finally collapsed and died, leaving his new house and
boat to whomever would stumble upon them. The moral of the
story is that you should never wish for too much; one day you
might get it.
Submitter comment:
My father would tell me this story right before I would go to
bed. It was one of my favorites.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Greed, Desire
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- B428 |
Date learned: 00-00-1970
PROVERBIAL PHRASE
THE MORE YOU EAT, THE MORE YOU WANT.
Where learned: CRACKER JACK SLOGAN
James Callow Keyword(s): FOOD ; GREED
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 00001950S (INFORMANT REMEMBERS IT FROM THE 50'S)
THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF RIVERS FLOW INTO THE SEA,
BUT THE SEA IS NEVER FULL -
AND IF MAN COULD TURN STONE INTO GOLD,
STILL WOULD HIS HEART NEVER BE CONTENTED.
Submitter comment: ORIENTAL WISDOM
Keyword(s): WATER GREED MONEY
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Proverb
Proverbial Metaphor:
Don't bite the hand that feeds you.
Submitter comment:
Don't be antagonistic to those who help you.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Located in pile marked Duplicates and Other Rejects
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ATTITUDE ; Bite ; GREED ; Hand ; METAPHOR
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Proverb
Don't bite the hand that feeds you
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Located in pile marked Duplicates and Other Rejects
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ;
Keyword(s): ATTITUDE ; Bite ; GREED ; Hand ; METAPHOR
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Proverb
Don't bite the hand that feeds you.
Submitter comment:
From - Uncertain
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Located in pile marked Duplicates and Other Rejects.
Original BN [V300] crossed out. Replaced wtih current classification.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE ;
Keyword(s): ATTITUDE ; Bite ; GREED ; Hand ; METAPHOR
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Proverb
Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.
Submitter comment:
Informant heard this in Detroit, MI
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
The question [Proves what?] is written next to the collector comment.
Original BN [S570] crossed out. Replaced with current classifications.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
Keyword(s): Appreciation ; COMEBACK ; Generous ; GIFT ; Grateful ; Greedy ; HORSE ; Mouth ; PROVERB ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; TEETH ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Proverb
Don't count your chickens before they hatch.
Submitter comment:
From - Uncertain
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; Chickens ; Egg ; Eggs ; GREED ; Greedy ; Hatch ; Maxim ; PROVERB ; VERSE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Proverb
You can't have your cake and eat it too.
Submitter comment:
When I was working as well as going to school and didn't have any time for socializing.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [V600] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Where learned: BOSTON ; Massachusetts
Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; Cake ; GREED ; Hypocrite ; Maxim ; PARADOX ; PROVERB ; VERSE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Proverb
You can't have your cake and eat it too.
Submitter comment:
Informant heard this in Norwalk, OH and in various parts of MI.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [V880] crossed out. Replaced with current classifications.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; Cake ; Eat ; GREED ; Hypocrite ; Maxim ; PARADOX ; PROVERB ; VERSE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Proverb
Money is the root of all evil.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; Corruption ; EVIL ; GREED ; Maxim ; MONEY ; PROVERB ; Source ; VERSE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Proverb
Beggars cannot be choosers.
Submitter comment:
Informant remembers her mother telling her this in Detroit in the early 1930's.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; Beggar ; Chooser ; Greedy ; Maxim ; Picky ; PROVERB ; VERSE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |