We love offering platitudes when we have nothing else to say. However, a lot of these common sayings are downright false.
Here are some things we say and hear constantly that aren’t even true.
You Only Use 10% of Your Brain
People love repeating the myth that you only use 10% of your brain, but it’s factually incorrect. We may not be fully aware of it, but we use a good deal of our brain power to keep our bodies alive. Tasks like breathing, blood flow, and information processing happen behind the scenes but use a lot of energy.
Sweating Like a Pig
We say we’re sweating like a pig because sweat is gross, and pigs are gross (in theory). Yet, the saying is factually incorrect because pigs’ paltry sweat glands don’t allow them to sweat like people.
Just Ignore Them
Parents love telling their children that if they ignore their tormentors, they’ll be left alone. Unfortunately, that’s rarely true. Some bullies will do whatever it takes to get a rise out of their victim, including escalating when ignored.
Good Things Come To Those Who Wait
Although this saying originally spoke to patience, many take it wrong and believe that if they just sit back and do nothing, good things will come. Life doesn’t work that way. Good things come to those who work long and hard for them. The saying really means that you shouldn’t expect immediate results.
You Won’t Always Have a Calculator
Twenty years ago, this was absolutely true. Our parents and teachers couldn’t have known that technology would advance so far that everyone would carry a tiny computer in their pockets everywhere they go.
The Customer is Always Right
Retail workers hate this saying, which customers try to take as literally as possible. Customers think they should get things for free because they’re the customer, and they said so.
What everyone gets wrong is that it was never intended to force companies to bend over backward in an attempt to appease rude customers. It spoke to customer desires, meaning the store should stock trendy items customers want to buy.
One Bad Apple
People love to say it’s just “one bad apple,” especially when discussing critical employees like police officers and soldiers. They use it to excuse the behavior of the bad actor.
They always forget that the saying goes, “One bad apple spoils the whole bunch,” meaning if you have one bad cop, the rest of that force may be rotten too.
Everything Happens for a Reason
Those invested in the Just World Fallacy can’t fathom a reality where bad things happen randomly. They believe that everything has a reason or a root cause.
Real life doesn’t work that way. The universe doesn’t care. Sometimes things just happen.
Money Can’t Buy Happiness
Money doesn’t exactly buy happiness, but it’s impossible to find happiness when you’re struggling to keep a roof over your head. The reality is that money can buy a little happiness, but most of us can’t afford it.
Pull Yourself Up By Your Bootstraps
People literally tell you to do the impossible with a straight face. It’s not possible to pull yourself up by your bootstraps. The original quote was intended satirically. But people run around saying it, pretending everyone has the same opportunities to succeed.
Hard Work Pays Off
Maybe hard work used to pay off, but it doesn’t anymore. Here’s why people no longer think it pays to try harder.
You Can Be Anything
Millions of children had their childhood dreams dashed when the harsh realities of adulthood set in. Most of us can’t be whatever we want. Many careers require years of expensive schooling, which most of us can’t afford, or only offer positions based on nepotism. Hard work and talent aren’t always enough.
Following Your Dreams Only for the Rich
Rich kids can follow their dreams. Here’s why following your dreams doesn’t work for most of us.
Wealthy People Have Freedom, Not Poor People
America has freedom, if you’re wealthy enough to enjoy it. Here are 14 ways only the very rich get to enjoy America’s freedoms.