Category Archives: general

You wouldn’t punch a gift horse in the mouth.

Nationality: American
Age: 18
Occupation: Student
Residence: Poughkeepsie, NY
Language: English

Text: “You wouldn’t punch a gift horse in the mouth.”

Informant: “The first time I heard ‘You wouldn’t punch a gift horse in the mouth,’ I remember being told that wasn’t the saying, and I got confused because, well you wouldn’t punch a gift horse in the mouth. The people I was with agreed with that logic and ever since then it’s been my go-to proverb. I believe it represents a proverb’s ability to evolve into the modern age; for a meaning to stay timeless even as the context changes. It is this mentality that I try and take with me. No matter what I do, it’s important to stay timeless but real to myself. Even if my context changes, my meaning stays the same.” 

Interpretation: The informant’s misinterpretation of “Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth” into “You wouldn’t punch a gift horse in the mouth” highlights the nature of language and the way proverbs can evolve while maintaining their core meaning. Traditionally, the original saying advises against inspecting or questioning a gift, but the informant’s version changes the focus to a funnier, simpler truth—appreciation and respect for what is given. By applying this perspective to their own life, they express a desire to remain both timeless and authentic, suggesting that personal identity should be flexible in context but unwavering in essence. Their reflection on the proverb’s adaptability speaks to the nature of wisdom, emphasizing that while language and circumstances may change, fundamental values remain relevant. The reinterpretation of the proverb, rather than diminishing its meaning, reinforces the idea that wisdom is not just about rigid tradition but about finding truth in every era.

Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime

Nationality: American
Age: 19
Occupation: Student
Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Language: English

Text: “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime”.

Informant: “A proverb that was introduced to me by a friend is ‘give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime. This saying was exhausted by my friend over a dozen times as he failed to teach me how to fish last summer. I associate this proverb with immense frustration and delusions of superiority and wisdom from my friend, as he too failed to catch a fish. I don’t even like fish like that. Salmon is good if prepared properly.”

Interpretation: This classic proverb highlights self-sufficiency and the long-term benefits of education over short-term aid. The informant’s humorous take on the phrase shows its challenges and its idealism, showing the frustration that can come with both teaching and learning. The experience suggests that knowledge alone is not enough, but execution plays a part as well. This perspective showcases the limitations of knowledge when it is isolated from success, exposing the bridge between theory and reality. A.B’s comment about not even liking fish also adds a layer of irony, questioning whether the skill being taught is even valuable to the learner, making it a playful critique of unwanted advice and misguided mentorship.

“No pressure, no diamonds” proverb

Nationality: American 

Age: 24

Occupation: Student

Residence: Los Angeles, but from Cleveland, OH

Collected Feb 27, 2025

Primary Language: English

Context:

“When Robert Griffin III was playing QB at Baylor University in 2011, the odds were stacked against them. Baylor’s football program at the time did not have a winning history and competed in the BIG 12 which is a power conference in college football. His mantra was “no pressure, no diamonds” to get his mind right when playing in the spotlight. That year, he led Baylor to a major upset win over Oklahoma and got to a new years’ six bowl. The phrase emphasizes that you need to deal with pressures and adversity to accomplish great things. Diamonds are created through immense pressure, so when I am confronted with pressure, I remind myself of this and power through. I learned this phrase watching him as I grew up and the phrase stuck with me.”

Personal Analysis:

With this one, the origin is relatively clear, although when exactly he learned it is less so. In talking to him, it seemed that he started saying this at around 9 years old, and in my own personal experience being his friend I’ve heard him say this many times. In this case I’d assess the significance that in the information age our proverbs and life lessons do not just come from our parents, family, and teachers, but instead from the outside world. Little kids listening to a postgame interview have their lives altered by the words of their favorite athlete. This is a mixed bag, but in this case, really cool.

“What goes around, comes around” Proverb

“What goes around comes back around”

Nationality: American 

Age: 22

Occupation: Student

Residence: LA, CA but from San Francisco

Collected Feb 27, 2025

Primary Language: English

Context:

“This is a very common proverb and my I know my parents didn’t use it a whole lot growing up so I’m not entirely sure where I first heard it but I mainly think of the Justin Timberlake song when I use it or hear it. I interpret the saying as what you put out into the world will be reciprocated back to you. The main context I hear it used in is when someone is doing something clearly wrong or immoral someone else might use it to warn them that they’ll get “bad karma” for what they did.”

Personal Analysis:

A very common proverb, but one that remains common largely because of how true it seems to be for most people. I think the historical and societal values this saying is based on are one that preach, at least in theory, fairness. The idea that positive conduct is not done in a vacuum but instead rewarded, and that for those who are evil or dishonest that the same will be done unto them. I think this is a relatively Christian belief, or at least within Christian morality, or possibly within the Buddhist idea of karma.

”Two Wrongs Don’t Make a Right” proverb

Age: 22

Profession: Student

Hometown: San Francisco

“Two Wrongs Don’t Make a Right”

“My mom used to say this proverb to me growing up. To me what it means is that when you or someone else does something wrong, following it up with a wrongdoing of your own to try to undo it won’t make the problem any better. I don’t really use this very much but I do consider it when I’m in applicable situations.”

This is another fairly common folk saying. I was also taught this saying when I was little by one of my teachers, and have used it myself as well. I think the basis of the idea behind this one is that it is not good to act reciprocally bad to someone who has wronged you, or to treat someone with malice if they have chosen that course themselves.