Here’s another “grandpaism.” I have no idea where this came from. My grandfather quit school just shy of finishing the 8th grade because of some wrong-headed notion (according to him). He was a plenty smart guy, but not highly educated, so this isn’t the sort of formulation native to his speech.
Still, if you asked him something he didn’t know and had no way of finding out (Does your Aunt Rose plan to come to the reunion today? Is beef roast still on sale at the market? Do dogs dream?), he would reply:
Not knowing, I hesitate to say.
Is that perfect? I love that! You’re welcome!
This post is part of Linda G. Hill’s weekly blog hop, One-Liner Wednesday. If you have a one-liner or just like them, follow the link.
MA
dan antion
October 17, 2018 at 7:22amToday, not knowing seems to keep very few people from saying! Wise man.
Marian Allen
October 17, 2018 at 7:56amHe was, indeed. 🙂
Mitchell Allen
October 17, 2018 at 7:24amThat is a very good answer. Seems like it should be on one of those posters people hang in their cubicles.
Cheers,
Mitch
Marian Allen
October 17, 2018 at 7:57amIf the poster came with a picture of a Border Collie on it, Grandpa would have loved it!
pm laberge
October 17, 2018 at 9:13amIf only more people today had that kind of brains and wisdom.
Particularly politicians.
I shall have to try borrow this.
AND USE IT.
Laurie
October 17, 2018 at 12:44pmSometimes the best thing to say is “I don’t know.” Your grandpa was a smart and confident man.
Marian Allen
October 17, 2018 at 2:41pmNot if my mother asked you the question. If my mother asked you something, your answer was expected to be, “I don’t know…But I’ll find out.” If that second part didn’t follow, she would raise an eyebrow and give you A Look until that second part remembered itself and came out of hiding. Then you found out and gave her the answer to her question.
John Holton
October 17, 2018 at 12:57pmThat sentence is almost old world in its construction. I love it!
Marian Allen
October 17, 2018 at 2:42pmA friend of mine in England says her mother and grandfather used to say it, too! I just wonder how my grandfather came by it?
Laura
October 17, 2018 at 4:24pmA wise man indeed. Thank you for sharing this with us!
Mary J Giese
October 17, 2018 at 5:43pmI like it. I may use it the next time someone at work asks me a question that they wrongly believe I know the answer to.
joey
October 20, 2018 at 9:35amYES.
Linda G. Hill
October 18, 2018 at 3:16pmVery Yoda-ish. 😀
joey
October 20, 2018 at 9:33amThat’s so good, I will actually use this one DAILY. I’ve only been able to “and don’t spare the horses” once.
Marian Allen
October 22, 2018 at 8:53amLOL!