“It Is an Affective Memory”: Proverbs as a Cultural Practice of Self-Care and Care for Others

ABSTRACT This article explores childhood memories with a focus on the transmission of proverbs, following the common thread of culture and the spheres of human activity that make use of language. It aims to investigate the imprints of giving and receiving care found in memories pertaining to the use of proverbs. The chosen methodology involved collective interviews in discussion groups with a group of professionals from a Specialization Course in Education and a group of High School students in a regular evening class, analyzing their recollections of childhood proverbs. The text is structured in two parts: a conceptual analysis of proverbs, and a description of the discussion groups and categories of analysis (Context; Intergenerational Experience; Metaphors and Polyphony; and Care). The closing thoughts suggest that the recollection and narration of proverbs constitute an act of care, fostering a human connection that reveals and touches others.