Interpreting Intercultural Proverbs (Objs. 2, 3) Proverbs, which tell truths with metaphors and simplicity, often reveal fundamental values held by a culture.
Your Task. Discuss the following proverbs and explain how they relate to some of the cultural values you studied in this chapter. What additional proverbs can you cite, and what do they mean?
North American proverbs
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The squeaking wheel gets the grease.
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. He who holds the gold makes the rules.
Japanese proverbs
A wise man hears one and understands ten. The pheasant would have lived but for its cry. The nail that sticks up gets pounded down.
German proverbs
What is bravely ventured is almost won.
He who wants to warm himself in old age must build a fireplace in his youth.
Charity sees the need, not the cause.