Travel broadens the mind – what other sayings are patently false, or not always true?

The long-running series in which readers answer other readers’ questions interrogates the truth of proverbs, adages, aphorisms and bons mots This week’s replies: which are more like life, novels or films? From what I can see, travelling in many cases has zero effect on a person’s outlook and prejudices. If that were not so, then high-flying politicians of all stripes would be among the most broad-minded people on the planet as they constantly jet from city to city. I can think of several proverbs that are extremely true, or at least seem so, such as “A stitch in time saves nine”, or “Many a mickle makes a muckle”, which it patently does – or especially the universally true, “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush”. But what other proverbs or quotes or apparently clever soundbites are untrue, for at least some of the time? “Fine words butter no parsnips”? And how do questionable assertions become sayings in the first place? Neil Ashby, Powys Post your answers (and new questions) below or send them to nq@theguardian.com by Thursday after publication. A selection will be published next Sunday.

Mar 15, 2026 → Mar 15, 2026