Words worth understanding
Start with the thought in plain English. Then examine its imagery, practical application and limitations.
2,058 selected entries have editorial explanations. An explanation is not independent authentication of an attribution. Start with the individually source-checked classics ↗
proverb · Traditional
Strong affection can sometimes be difficult to put into words. The saying notices a possible gap between feeling and expression, but silence is not proof of love, and difficulty speaking should not replace attention to someone’s need for clear communication.
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An apparently innocent or composed manner can invite scepticism about what someone has done. The butter image is a pointed comment on appearances, not proof that a quiet person is deceptive.
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Careful judgement can help someone notice a deceptive tactic before accepting it. The saying praises discernment, but its confident wording must not imply that capable people cannot be deceived or that being misled proves foolishness.
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A loss of outward strength need not erase remembered patterns. The wolf’s teeth and memory contrast reduced capacity with what may remain familiar.
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The saying praises women’s instinct by contrasting it with men’s reasoning. Even this favourable comparison relies on a gender stereotype, rather than evaluating a particular intuition or argument on its merits.
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The saying plays on women having their wills in life and supposedly making none at death. Desire and a testament are given the same word in a gendered joke.
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The saying contrasts speech with physical harm, treating words as passing and blows as cruel. That contrast needs correction because words can also cause lasting harm.
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Words gain effect when supported by seriousness and substance. The weight image connects the force of speech with what gives it credibility.
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Words spoken in a passing moment may not become lasting commitments. The evening wind carrying them away pictures the fragility of an unconfirmed statement.
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Something restless or conspicuous is difficult to conceal for long. The eel-in-a-sack image suggests that what is hidden may make itself noticeable, but it should not be treated as proof that every secret will emerge or that concealment can be detected reliably.
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An outward container does not establish the quality of what is inside. Look for evidence about the substance rather than relying on packaging, appearance or a reassuring presentation.
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Distance can change what news reaches you, so information about a place may become more noticeable elsewhere. The saying presents a paradox about circulation and perspective, rather than establishing that distant reports are more accurate.
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The phrase rejects a claim as implausible, suggesting that the speaker feels someone is asking too much of their belief. A strong expression of doubt still needs reasons when the actual claim matters.
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