“It takes more skill than I can tell, to play the second fiddle well” [English proverbs EXPLAINED!]

~ English Proverbs with @britcoins - A new series :)

This couplet was composed by Charles H. Spurgeon, the famous Baptist minister and orator. Spurgeon remains highly influential among Christians of various denominations, among whom he is known as the "Prince of Preachers". As we can see he also looks darn cool, for some dude from 100 years ago -

^{he was a hipster hundreds of years before they were even invented}

What's this saying mean?

"The leading performer in an orchestra is the first violin. By extension, the play first violin is to take the leading part in any enterprise. A familiar or conceited term for a violin is the ‘fiddle’, so to play second fiddle has been used to describe taking a subordinate part" - Is how Google tells it. Let's think about it a little further, in the most spectacular little nugget of wisdom I am going to share with you. Playing second fiddle well is a life pro skill. With pressures of modern society, we are told to never be 'second fiddle' and you'll find plenty of this garbage brainwashing by doing a Google search. How wrong can they be!

moral of it all...

Searching for what 'second fiddle' means is my proof - Information out there in the wild is there to fuck you up kids, pure and simple.

^{Quite innaccurate}

Why playing second fiddle well is awesome

A vice president is second fiddle. A co-driver, a co-pilot, and even in a medical surgery, there are 'second fiddles'. Essential roles that without which, the lead role lacks harmony. Listen to a lead violin is nice, having a harmony to back it up is even more joyous. Are you of the strength of character, to embrace and play that second fiddle well?

Who wants only to ever play the lead role will never learn how. He (or She) that plays the second fiddle well, will learn to lead for certain.

Here are some similar sayings,

“he that cannot obey cannot command”

"If two men ride a horse, one must ride behind”

“through obedience learn to command”.

The moral of the story, sometimes true leadership can mean playing second fiddle. To be able to take the stance on your role and know that in reality one needs the other. A leading voice needs harmony. Yin needs Yang. There is no leading with nothing to lead.

It is in fact one I stumbled upon in a book of English Idioms and sayings, and I’ll be basing a few posts from this book going on because it is packed with hundreds of these gems.

This is one I recall from my youth, and being told the same by my mother and her father (grandfather) in appropriate situations. What it means, and in particular to men, is we always like to be in control.

We want to be the ones leading the race, driving the cart, making the calls. Many take a stance of ‘I’ll never play second fiddle’ yet how many times have you taken a look at when playing second fiddle actually worked out for you? Well imagine if you were a top Formula 1 race driver - and you had to play second fiddle - As a race driver! These teams do it time and time again.

^{Perfect example, Ricciardo must begin as second fiddle to 3 time world champ team mate Seb Vettel(left)}

^{more food for thought}

^{Final tip - Playing second fiddle well, takes TRUST!!!!}