Alas, mouse cannot cast shadow like elephant.

{To collect any number of things.}

Ah, yes, "Alas, mouse cannot cast shadow like elephant" (a Charlie Chan aphorism from The Black Camel) and it is true, "Soap and water never can change perfume of billy goat" (also from The Black Camel). Watching a few too many Charlie Chan films of late has me sprouting many sayings when at home, though only when my memory serves and lately that is not as often as I’d like.

Here are a few favourites of mine, from Charlie Chan in Shanghai, so that you, too, can sprout such wise pointed sayings.
Smart rats know when to leave ship.
Owner of face cannot always see nose.
Talk cannot cook rice.
Cold omelette, like fish out of sea, does not improve with age.

And from Charlie Chan in Egypt, another recent watch.
Waiting for tomorrow waste of today.
Theory like mist on eyeglasses - obscures facts.

Curiosity piqued? Here are a few more from films I have yet to see. Perhaps they will help put a little pepper on your conversations toady?
When money talk, few are deaf. (Charlie Chan in Honolulu)
When all players hold suspicious cards, good idea to have joker up sleeve. (Charlie Chan at the Olympics)
Useless to sprinkle salt on tail of time. (Charlie Chan at the Olympics)
Tiger going away from village is never feared. (Dangerous Money)
The geese who laid the eggs deserve the credit. (Charlie Chan's Chance)
Only very foolish mouse make nest in cat's ear. (Charlie Chan at the Wax Museum)
Man seldom scratches where he does not itch. (Charlie Chan Carries On)
Curiosity responsible for cat needing nine lives. (Charlie Chan at the Circus)
Way to find rabbit's residence is to turn rabbit loose and watch. (The Black Camel)

It’s true, I have been procrastinating, stalling, putting off what needs to be done. Detective Chan would no doubt say to me "Begin at best place – beginning" (Charlie Chan in London) and that is just what I shall do.

(Psst... for those who may have missed it. New things have, over the course of the weekend, been added to our store. Works on Paper has ballooned considerably and you will now find nestled in its wings all manner of lithographic offset artists' proofs, drawings, thaumatropes (or turning marvels), collages and limited edition artists' books. Take a peek for yourself here.)

Comments

[louise]

Hysterical... I hope your day is fruitful and hopefully this can be avoided... Best laid plans of mice and men sometimes go a little bit haywire. (Charlie Chan The Trap)

[elaine haby]

Eye easily deceived. Same leopard can hide beneath different spots.

[lisa s]

it's funny that you mention mr. chan... a very dear friend of mine loves those movies... he's always spouting "chan-o-grams"....
hee hee!
XO

[tommy]

I want to watch all those Charlie Chan films now. It's funny because I can translate all those wise sayings into Mandarin but they're not ancient Chinese wisdom.

[jac]

I love the billy goat one... I must remember it!

[MeganRuth]

I love your blog but there is an issue with typepad and google reader. only the html shows up. i know Oh Joy! was having the same issue and resolved it somehow, although I'm not sure how.

Thanks for all your inspiration!

[kate]

These are great ... I'm going to have to try some out. I haven't seen a Charlie Chan film in ages!

[amisha]

so funny... and appropriate that i'm procrastinating by reading them :) beautiful new works in the shop! i feel the lure of the holidays...
xox

[Tiffany]

Oh, I love Charlie Chan movies! I used to watch them with my Dad when I was young. Every Saturday afternoon, we'd turn on the Boston station to a program called, "The Movie Loft" and they'd play the BEST movies all afternoon long. Charlie Chan was always my fav...oh, and the Marx Brothers!

Oh, I got my Duck Egg Scribbler in the mail from Hammer and Daisy and it's fantabulous! I love it! And the card of your work - totally love. Thank you ever so much!! I've got to head over to your store to see what's new.

:^)
Tiff*

[cd&m]

Brilliant quotes!

[Veronica TM]

love the artists books! have to check those movies out now.
i posted the photos for the zine, they are here: http://flickr.com/photos/veronicatm/sets/72157602672741640/

[cruststation]

I love quotes, my favs are -
Waiting for tomorrow waste of today.
Theory like mist on eyeglasses - obscures facts. So true! Great new things in the shop...