love is just a further impetus, not something that will prevent us going forward. We do not realize that those who genuinely wish us well want us to be happy and are prepared to accompany us on that journey.

Meaning: Possessiveness and a demand for dominance can make equal companionship difficult. Love and lordship are pictured as unwilling to share their place with others.

Meaning: A wish to possess or rule can interfere with friendship. The saying invites scrutiny of exclusivity and power in relationships rather than treating them as unavoidable.

Editorial context: This saying endorses beating a woman. It records an abusive viewpoint, not valid advice or a justification for violence.

Meaning: This saying presents beating a woman as a way to improve her behaviour, alongside beating an animal or tree. It expresses an abusive viewpoint, not a valid instruction for relationships or care.

Meaning: Even those who seem small or unimportant still have needs. Do not overlook someone’s basic requirements because they have little status or visibility.