Thursday, October 12, 2006

Show 'em who's boss!

Today's literary nugget - cynical advice on handling the workforce from a little-known early 18th Century English poet, Aaron Hill. To some, it might seem like a method for handling women too ("Treat 'em mean, keep 'em keen."). For me, it has always seemed most appropriate to wrangling a class of unruly students. That's the beauty of a good metaphor: its applicability can spin off in all sorts of directions.


Written on a Window

Tender-handed stroke a nettle
And it stings you for your pains;
Grasp it, like a man of mettle,
And it soft as silk remains.

'Tis the same with common natures:
Use them kindly, they rebel;
But be rough as nutmeg-graters
And the rogues obey you well.

Aaron Hill (1685-1750)

No comments: