We can’t resist ethnocentric bias unless we understand our own culture and social communities and the values that they attempt to instill in us. Earlier in this chapter, we identifi ed proverbs that express values in non-Western cultures. Now, we’ll do the reverse by looking at common sayings and proverbs in the United States. Read the adages below, and identify what they refl ect about cultural values in the United States.

◆ “You can’t be too rich or too thin.”

◆ “A stitch in time saves nine.”

◆ “A watched pot never boils.”

◆ “It’s the squeaky wheel that gets the grease.”

◆ “You’ve made your bed, now lie in it.”

What other sayings can you think of that express key United States values?