Tag Archives: family

Nothing in life is free, cause you’ll pay some other way – Proverb

Nationality: American
Age: 22
Occupation: College Student
Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Language: English

Text:

Nothing in life is free, cause you’ll pay some other way

Context:

My informant uses this proverb with her friends and family. She gave the scenario of her friend flirting with a stranger at the bar to get a free drink. My informant said this proverb to her friend after she returned with her free drink.

Analysis:

When my informant gave me this proverb, I recognized the first part (“Nothing in life is free”). However, I was not familiar with the latter half of the proverb. I have heard variations of this proverb, such as “Everything has a cost,” and I have always found it interesting. Even if someone does not have to use their money to get something, they have to pay for the thing with their time and energy instead. In the case of my informant’s friend, although she did not have to use her money to buy herself a drink, she “paid” the other person with her time and energy talking to them. It makes people reflect on what form of payment is more valuable: money or time and energy.

You can’t always get what you want – Folk Speech

Nationality: American
Age: 22
Occupation: College Student
Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Language: English

Text:

You can’t always get what you want

Context:

My informant told me that her parents used to tell her this as a kid. A scenario she provided was when she and her sister disagreed on how to do something and my informant did the task her own way with no regard for what her sister wanted. Her parents said this phrase to her to help her understand that not everything in life will go her way, and therefore she needed to learn how to compromise and adjust accordingly.

Analysis:

This phrase became popular when The Rolling Stones released the song “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” in 1969. There is a legend that Mick Jagger heard this phrase at a bar after a concert in Minnesota, although it was never verified. For people who know this song, this phrase would be considered a reference to The Rolling Stones. What I find interesting, though, is that when I used to hear my parents use this phrase, I was not aware that they were quoting a song. I thought this phrase was a proverb/a kind of folk speech, and I’m probably not alone in that thought. It will be interesting to see how as time goes on, if younger generations will know this phrase as a “reference to that one Rolling Stones song” or if it will only be known as a phrase that parents/older people use with children.

Childhood Family Superstition

Informant Info

Race/Ethnicity: White

Age: 21

Occupation: College Student

Residence: Connecticut, USA

Date of Performance: February 13, 2025

Primary Language: English

Other Language(s): N/A

Relationship: Friend

Text: “Step on a crack, break your mother’s back.” 

Context: The informant remembers hearing the saying “Step on a crack, break your mother’s back” during childhood, particularly when playing with friends. It was a common saying on the playground, where kids would avoid stepping on cracks in the sidewalk to avoid bad luck. Even though they knew it was nonsensical, the informant and their friends would still follow the rule for fun, making it part of their playful rituals.

Analysis: This saying is a typical example of folk speech, a type of saying or ditty passed down informally through generations. While it lacks any real logical basis, it’s part of a childhood tradition that shapes behavior in a playful way. The saying reflects how cultural beliefs, no matter how irrational, can influence actions, especially when repeated among peers. It’s also a good example of how sayings like this contribute to social bonding, with children sharing a common, fun rule to follow. In my opinion though it doesn’t have real-world consequences, the saying helps form part of the social fabric of childhood play, showing how such sayings are passed down through communities, creating shared experiences.

Ingraining Responsibility Proverb

Informant Info

Race/Ethnicity: White

Age: 21

Occupation: College Student

Residence: Connecticut, USA

Date of Performance: February 13, 2025

Primary Language: English

Other Language(s): N/A

Relationship: Friend

Text: “You reap what you sow.” 

Context: The informant’s parents often used this proverbial saying during high school, especially when they were falling behind on assignments or goals. It was a reminder to take responsibility and stay on top of things. Whenever the informant struggled or didn’t get the results they expected, their parents would remind them that effort directly leads to outcomes. It was a way to teach the value of hard work and staying committed, especially during challenging times.

Analysis: This saying emphasizes personal responsibility and the importance of hard work, with a focus on long-term outcomes rather than immediate gratification. It suggests a relationship between actions and consequences, mirroring the work ethic valued in many cultures, particularly in Western beliefs. In Western societies, the idea of “you reap what you sow” closely aligns with the notion of the “American Dream,” which emphasizes that individuals can achieve success through hard work, dedication, and perseverance. The informant’s recollection highlights how this proverb functions as a reminder that success isn’t just about talent, but about consistent effort and discipline. This aligns with the Western belief that individuals are responsible for their own achievements, and that the effort put forth will directly determine the results, reinforcing the values of personal responsibility and self-reliance.

Six of one half, dozen of the other – Proverb

Nationality: American
Age: 51
Occupation: Middle School Teacher
Residence: Park Ridge, Il
Language: English

The proverb comes in two types: The correct one and the one that had been twisted.

The correct proverb goes “six of one, half dozen of the other”, but MK frequently misspoke and said “six of one half, dozen of the other” enough to where it became its own proverb.

This proverb means something along the lines of “it’s all the same regardless,” meaning whichever direction or choice one makes, the results will be the same. However, MK so often misspoke when trying to say this proverb that her version, “six of one half, dozen of the other,” became its own proverb accidentally. This new proverb would then seemingly mean that the choices presented to the speaker are no longer equal, and there is a correct choice that will provide more value. Despite this, the proverb is still taken as its correct variation where both choices are equal when used in practice.

This proverb could have taken on a new meaning, but rather than becoming its own proverb to counter its original, it instead became an inside joke between MK and her husband, becoming used intentionally wrong to call back to the frequent accidental mistakes that made it its own version in the first place. Because of this, it is only really used between MK and her husband. What makes this version of the proverb stick then is the added meaning behind the shared joke that makes the proverb take on a new primary meaning of love and connection between the couple, as it is a proverb that only they can truly appreciate. MK said about this proverb but their family in general is that it is built off of ridicule, making these jabs a sign of love and respect between the family as a whole. The familial tradition of poking fun at one another gives it the staying power to stand as a new proverb despite its literal context losing logical sense as a proverb trying to say all choices are equal.