You can’t cross the same river twice?

Question

I was having a discussion with a dear friend and this came up: “You can’t cross the same river twice.”

But why not? Isn’t it the same river, and the same you? What’s your interpretation of this?

Answer 1

The original expression is really "you can never step into the same river twice." And it's not an idiomatic expression either in the English or in Filipino languages; rather it is a paradox of some sort. Read on ---

The Heraclitus's river paradox is featured in Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now Redux in the newly added French plantation scene in a dialogue between Captain Willard and French colonist Roxanne:

Roxanne: "Do you know why you can never step into the same river twice?"

Willard: "Yeah, 'cause it's always moving."

It is also featured in Disney's Pocahontas, during the song "Colors of the Wind", in which Pocahontas sings "What I love most about rivers is you can't step in the same river twice; The water's always changing, always flowing"

A variation of the paradox exists in the manga and anime, Ghost in the Shell.

And my interpretation: Every experience is different. You may be doing the same thing over and over (e.g., combing your hair), but each time the result is different.

Answer 2

Same River Twice

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
You can’t cross the same river twice?
I was having a discussion with a dear friend and this came up: “You can’t cross the same river twice.”

But why not? Isn’t it the same river, and the same you? What’s your interpretation of this?

Answer 4

The river is the same each time you cross it, but in name only. Rivers are always moving, so a safe crossing once may not be so safe the next time over (different predators moving across your path, perhaps?). They are not like lakes of still water, they are always moving, and so constantly changing. How did this question get in the Philippines category?
Having just read the previous response, I'd say he's closer to the heart of the saying. Going back over the same river means you're not moving forward.

Answer 5

to roughly quote Pocahontas, which i coincidentally watch 2 days ago:

"You can't cross the same river twice because the water is always flowing"

Hence you are not putting your feet in the same river..the water flows and along with it the rocks, pebbles and sand in the river bed flows and changes..

In life, making a choice on a similar affair is not always the same because circumstances always change. you may "yes' on something today but on retrospect, given your current situation, you would have said "no"

Answer 6

Don't take it literally for it is an idiomatic expression, Filipinos are good at that, saying words with different meaning.

Crossing the same river twice means committing the same mistake.

You can literally cross the same river BUT you cannot commit the same mistake.

Answer 7

You can't cross the same river twice.
The river is different.
You are different.

a Haiku

Answer 8

Aquadulce has covered the question superbly, as well as the others. I would just like to add another parallel.

"Look at this sunset, it's beautiful, neh? This sunset exists. Tomorrow does not exist. There is only now. Please look. It is so beautiful and it will never happen ever again, never, not this sunset, never in all infinity."

Mariko Toda, in Shogun
by James Clavell

Answer 9

It means you can't decide to do something one way (crossing the river to one side), and then change your mind and do it another way (crossing the river again to the other side).
.

Answer 10

I guess, there is something wrong with the statement. It's actually "Di ka pwedeng mamangka sa dalawang ilog," which is you cannot cross two rivers all at once. It's akin to saying, you can't be at two places at one time. But it's more of being two-timer.