"He holds water in one hand and fire in the other"?

[sasquatch]

Does anyone know what this means?
:shrug:

[DarkTirade]

1. It means that according to the laws of statistics

he's at a good temperature and humidity level overall.

[sasquatch]

2. It's a phrase that was used in the middle ages in France

[Chan790]

7. It's actually high-rensaissance German.

as for what it means? No clue. It's probably synonymous with the proverb: "A flatterer holds water in one hand and fire in the other."

What does that mean? No clue.

[Drum]

3. sorry, dunno...but i like it. nt

[sasquatch]

4. Kick

:kick:

[Shell Beau]

5. It means he is one bad motherf**ker

[DS1]

6. this

[cemaphonic]

13. Ah, little lad, you're staring at my fingers.

Would you like me to tell you the little story of right-hand/left-hand?

[DS1]

14. Nope

[cemaphonic]

15. Heh

I love that movie (Night of the Hunter, not Rocky Horror or Do the Right Thing, although I like those as well.)

[mitchum]

17. I also love that movie...

but that's probably no real surprise, is it?
:)

[petronius]

8. Here's a definition from Bartleby

To say one thing and mean another; to flatter, to deceive; to lull suspicion in order the better to work mischief.
“Altera manu fert aquam, altera ignem. Altera manu fert lapidem, altera panem ostentat.” -- Plautus.

http://www.bartelby.com/81/3092.html

The second part of that example is "in one hand he carries a stone, in the other he offers bread."

[redqueen]

12. Interesting... thank you!

[sasquatch]

16. Thank you pertonius

That makes sense

[Gonzo Gardener]

9. This phrase may have evolved from the philosophy of Heraclitus

http://www.iep.utm.edu/h/heraclit.htm

Here, Nereas, a three bodied Greek shape shifting demon of the watery element (or demon of flux) is depicted holding the elements fire, water, and, a bird (representing air).




The phrase could also be interpreted as... Man holds the power to destroy (fire) and/or create (water). :shrug:

[Deja Q]

10. He causes problems then he resolves them?

:shrug:

[meegbear]

11. He's a McDLT ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHHmUPxNpR4