do proverbs always represent the wisdom of the ages or can they be an easy,unthinking response to real problemsM A friend of mine had the annoying habit of responding to any problem by citing a proverb.Tell him that you were trying to decide whether or not to buy some new shoes and he’d say,”A penny saves is a penny earned.”To which i’d reply, “oh, yeah, what about being ‘Penny wise and pound foolish? The shoes are on sale today Tomorrow the price will be higher.