One in the hand is worth two in the bush. what does this mean to you?

Answer 1

The old saying is ' A bird in the hand, is worth two in the bush' meaning that if you have one safely caught, is is worth more than two flying wild................ So, the moral would be, be happy with what you have..............

Answer 2

I wonder if this was used as a measurement of labor.

Prima facie the object in the hand has the same value as 2 objects in the bush. But why is this so? Because it takes work to liberate the two objects from the bush-- or, more intuitively, that there is a risk involved in the extraction of the two (animals supposedly).

There is also a sense where the dog drops his bone in the reflecting pool. Can we draw such a lesson here? That if you HAVE one in the hand, that is better than wanting what is in the bush. It is worth the same as two in the bush-- given the risk of having nothing, when you have something-- why work for something you already have. The value is identical afterall.

But we may be greedy for both in the bush. And why not think we could have all three? Will the one in the hand run away? Are the two in the bush a sure bet? (There is an identity of AT LEAST "worth" here-- what does this mean?) Why would you not choose two in the bush, if they were a sure bet? Is the outcome of raising the bushes always result in one in the hand? Is it that our hands can only hold one object?

The meaning is somewhat slippery.

Answer 3

Hey Paris Cap...,

If you have something of value in your posession, but have to get rid of it to take a chance on some others that you might not be able to get - the one you have is worth more. Normally, the expression is "A BIRD in the hand...".

An example would be seeing two great jobs in another city. If you have to give up the one you have to get one of the other two jobs possibly, then the one you have is worth more.

The proverb "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush" is a metaphoric expression meaning that it is better to settle with what you have rather than risk losing everything by attempting to gain more.

This popular proverb is applied to a variety of situations in every day life because it warns others about the effects of greed. Another rubber ducky proverb similar in meaning is the saying, "The grass is always greener on the other side", which means that what you don't have always looks better than what you do.

Answer 4

Hi Paris,

Basically, hold on to the one
you already have in your 'hand',
lest you get greedy and try for
a second one, which is when
the one in your hand 'joins' the
one in the bush, thus 2 for the
bush, zero for you!
Be happy
Less is best!

Answer 5

Don't know but I'd prefer two bushes to the hand!

Answer 6

I agree with dakframe on this. Gambling never pays!
We ought to value what we have, instead of wanting more than we need.

Gambling
- Is It Harmless Fun?
http://www.watchtower.org/e/20020722/article_01.htm

Common Sense
- Why So Uncommon?
http://www.watchtower.org/e/20050515a/article_01.htm

Can Money Bring You the Real Life? :
- Your Money or Your life?
- How Can You Keep a Balanced View ... ?
http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/2001/6/15/article_01.htm

Answer 7

As in hunting say Quail, the one you have in your game bag, is worth far more than what you think might be in the bushes.

Answer 8

I won't give you the X-rated answer, I'm sure someone else will though
what you have is more valuable than whats out of your reach
A steak on your plate is worth 2 in the freezer (I'm from TX)

Answer 9

This is the Secret Service's new motto...and their new defensive doctrine of attempting to delfect assasin's bullets with their hands.

Answer 10

take the easy one,it's worth two hard ones.