General Knowledge: Literature, Idioms & Facts

The proverb 'A man is as old as he feels' means that age is more about attitude and perception than chronological years. Other verbs like 'knows,' 'walk,' or 'run' don't complete this common saying.

'Any time means no time' is a common proverb indicating that when something is available 'any time,' people tend to procrastinate and never actually do it. This emphasizes the paradox of unlimited availability leading to inaction.

The full proverb is 'A penny saved is a penny gained' (sometimes 'earned'), meaning that saving money is just as valuable as earning it. Benjamin Franklin popularized this saying about frugality and financial prudence.

'Necessity is the mother of invention' is a famous proverb meaning that difficult situations or pressing needs often inspire creative solutions and innovations. The phrase has been traced back to Plato and has been used for centuries.

'Rome was not built in a day' is a well-known proverb meaning that great achievements take time and patience. This saying reminds us that important work cannot be rushed and requires sustained effort.

This famous quote appears in Act 2, Scene 2 of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet,' where Juliet argues that a name is meaningless compared to the person's true nature. The line emphasizes that Romeo's family name (Montague) shouldn't matter to their love.

This 'All the world's a stage' monologue is spoken by Jaques in Act 2, Scene 7 of 'As You Like It.' It's one of Shakespeare's most famous speeches, describing the seven ages of man from infancy to old age.

'Cut your coat according to your cloth' is a proverb meaning you should live within your means and adjust your ambitions to your resources. The metaphor comes from tailoring: you must cut a coat based on how much fabric you have available.

These lines appear in Shakespeare's 'Julius Caesar,' Act 2, Scene 1, spoken by Caesar himself before his assassination. The quote contrasts fear (cowards who die many times mentally) with courage (the valiant who face death only once).

These lines are from Portia's speech in Act 4, Scene 1 of 'The Merchant of Venice,' during Shylock's demand for his 'pound of flesh.' The famous 'quality of mercy' speech follows this, where she pleads for justice tempered with compassion.

The well-known English idiom is 'Curiosity killed the cat,' meaning excessive inquisitiveness can lead to dangerous situations. The phrase is often followed by 'but satisfaction brought it back' in modern usage.

This is the opening line of Shakespeare's Macbeth (Act 1, Scene 1), spoken by the three witches. They are plotting to meet Macbeth upon the heath, setting the tone for the tragic events that follow.

Ron Paul's 2007 presidential campaign set a then-record for online fundraising in a single day, raising over $6 million on December 16, 2007, which was also the 234th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party.

December 16, 1998 was a significant day during the Iraq disarmament crisis - President Bill Clinton ordered Operation Desert Fox, a major four-day bombing campaign against Iraq.

December 16 is celebrated as Victory Day in Bangladesh, commemorating the victory of the Allied forces and Mukti Bahini over the Pakistani military in 1971, leading to Bangladesh's independence.

The Day of Reconciliation is a public holiday in South Africa celebrated on December 16th, intended to foster reconciliation and national unity, recognizing the significance of both the 1838 Battle of Blood River and the founding of Umkhonto we Sizwe in 1961.

December 16, 2005 was a Friday. National Day in Bahrain is celebrated on December 16th each year, marking the anniversary of the current ruler's accession to the throne.

AVATAR carried the first theatrical trailer of My Name Is Khan during its December 2009 release, which was a major promotional strategy for the Bollywood film.