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Lesson 8

Proverbs

Proverbs are nuggets of wisdom distilled from years of human experi-
ence. Though life is a flux and the only thing that doesn’t change is “change”

itself, there are some solid truths we can always rely on as constants. These are

the truths contained in proverbs. All generations can quote them with perfect
conviction that they make sense, that they haven’t gone out of style, and that
they are still valid. Who can argue against an elder who says to a youngster

going out with bad companions,” birds of a feather flock together”, and who can

fault the witty reply of this youngster when he rebuts “ opposites attract”. When
a person is admonished for hesitating with “he who hesitates is lost”, he can parry with the truth,

“Look before your leap”. Touché. The point is, proverbs are taken as articles of truths, indubitable, not
debatable. The human truths contained in proverbs are even more respected than scientific facts. If

a mother chides his son with the proverb,” I drank more water than you”, and the son replies with the
fact “But I ate more hamburgers than you”, we adjudge the mom as wise and the son as foolish. Or

when a wife criticizes his husband for spending more time with his friends than with his family with

the proverb “blood is thicker than water”, we think she makes more sense than the husband who re-
sponds with the scientific fact “But honey, water is in fact thicker than blood because it contains more

molecules and thus denser.” The validity of proverbs transcends the limits of time and culture. Thus,
the typical American proverb “boys will be boys”, holds true in the US as well as in Korea. And the

Korean proverb “A dog raised at Sodang for three years, can chant Chinese lessons” is valid in the
USA though the dog in question is a poodle in Miami. And this 18th century Korean proverb “Even a

fish wouldn’t get into trouble if it kept its mouth shut” makes sense these days, even more so.

Comprehension

1. According to the article, where do proverbs come from?
2. What is the one thing in life that doesn’t change?

Questions

1. Tell me some Korean proverbs. Explain what they mean.
2. What do proverbs mean to you?

Vocabulary & Expressions

nuggets: A small compact portion or unit
distilled: To fall or exude in drops or small quantities
rebut: to oppose by contrary proof
admonished: To remind of something forgotten or disregarded, as an obligation or a
responsibility
touché: Used to acknowledge a hit in fencing or a successful criticism or an
effective point in argument.
indubitable: that cannot be doubted; patently evident or certain; unquestionable

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