Roger Schank pointed out that proverbs are situation labels; sometimes proverbs are further compressed into single-word labels, as in 'sour grapes' (lower case) which evokes the situation of someone rationalizing away a desire for something unattainable.
factualpending
Speaker
Douglas HofstadterEvidence Quote
“Roger Schank pointed out...Proverbs are situation labels...proverbs are boiled down into just a single word like sour grapes...Somebody didn't get a job...they said, 'Oh, it probably wasn't...interesting to live in...Edmonton, Alberta.' [51:14]”
Created: 8/12/2026, 6:12:22 PM
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