Proverbs and Parables of Profit
Contents
- 1 Proverbs and Parables of Profit
- 1.1 Nature of the Proverbs
- 1.2 How Proverbs Are Used
- 1.3 Core Parables
- 1.4 Common Proverbs
- 1.4.1 “The ledger remembers.”
- 1.4.2 “Gold forgives nothing.”
- 1.4.3 “Blood spills once. Credit spills forever.”
- 1.4.4 “Honor is keeping the same price tomorrow.”
- 1.4.5 “You shouted numbers.”
- 1.4.6 “You woke the Badgers.”
- 1.4.7 “Badgers don’t retreat.”
- 1.4.8 “We didn’t lose. We miscalculated.”
- 1.4.9 “That family’s numbers don’t balance anymore.”
- 1.4.10 “Close the ledger.”
- 1.5 Social Meaning
- 1.6 Regional Notes
Proverbs and Parables of Profit
The Proverbs and Parables of Profit are a shared body of metaphorical speech used among Ratfolk families to express judgment, warning, and consequence without direct accusation. These sayings are not laws, scriptures, or records of historical events. They are cultural shorthand, widely understood within Ratfolk society and increasingly familiar to long-term residents of major trade cities such as Ra’azum.
Ratfolk use proverbs to argue indirectly. Meaning is conveyed through implication rather than explanation, allowing disputes to be resolved publicly without escalation.
Nature of the Proverbs
Ratfolk proverbs are:
- Metaphorical, not literal
- Reusable across situations
- Unconcerned with factual origin
- Focused on outcome, not intent
A proverb does not mean “this happened once.” It means “this is the kind of mistake you are making.”
Details may vary between tellers. The meaning does not.
How Proverbs Are Used
In conversation:
- One proverb is a warning
- Two exchanged indicates disagreement
- Three or more in succession signals that a decision is forming
- Silence afterward indicates acceptance of the outcome
Mixed metaphors are common, particularly in moments of stress or anger. This is not considered improper; it reflects emotional pressure and urgency.
Outsiders may understand the direction of a discussion without grasping its full weight. This is considered normal.
Core Parables
The Pig and the Cow
Meaning: Short-term gain versus long-term stability.
The pig provides immediate food. The cow provides food for years.
Used when immediate profit threatens future security.
Common usage:
- “The pig fed us.”
- “For one night.”
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The Broken Scale
Meaning: A system that still functions but no longer inspires trust.
Often invoked when control has been lost or outcomes become unpredictable, even if money was made.
Common usage:
- “The scale still balances.”
- “It spoke.”
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The Third Winter
Meaning: The consequences that arrive after success or recovery.
Ratfolk planning accounts not only for survival, but for what follows it.
Common usage:
- “Who feeds us in the third winter?”
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The Fighter Who Couldn’t Be Priced
Meaning: An asset that develops agency.
Used when a person is treated as a number and refuses to behave accordingly.
Often cited in discussions of sponsorship, leverage, or assumed obedience.
Common Proverbs
“The ledger remembers.”
Nothing truly disappears. Debts, favors, and reputations persist even when ignored.
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“Gold forgives nothing.”
Money has no mercy or patience. Mistakes involving profit always come due.
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“Blood spills once. Credit spills forever.”
Violence ends quickly. Reputational damage does not.
Often used to argue against escalation.
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“Honor is keeping the same price tomorrow.”
True honor is consistency, not sentiment or performance.
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“You shouted numbers.”
Private calculations were made public, attracting scrutiny, competitors, or predators.
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“You woke the Badgers.”
Aggressive speculators have sensed opportunity.
Often used with regret.
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“Badgers don’t retreat.”
Once aggressive expansion begins, it is difficult to stop cleanly.
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“We didn’t lose. We miscalculated.”
Survival framed as dignity rather than failure.
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“That family’s numbers don’t balance anymore.”
Trust has eroded, regardless of actual solvency.
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“Close the ledger.”
End discussion. Accept loss. Stop exposure before it worsens.
Social Meaning
Ratfolk rarely say “this is bad” or “this will fail.” They invoke a proverb and allow the implication to stand.
Silence following a proverb exchange is considered a verdict.
Regional Notes
While the Proverbs and Parables of Profit are known throughout Ratfolk society, their most refined and rapid use is found in dense trade cities such as Ra’azum. In such environments, proverb fluency is considered a sign of competence and maturity.
New proverbs occasionally emerge from widely observed success or failure. Once adopted, their origins quickly become irrelevant.
