Hypatia- Sorry for the delayed response. i’m glad you took the time to check out the older essays.
I looked at the site you suggested, but I’m not sure that I can equate all colloquial sayings as wisdom, at least not entirely.
Sure, there are plenty of nuggets of good advice, but there are just as many references to personal behavior and social taboos wrapped up inside.

Yes, culturally, we have been trained to see things in polar opposite terms. Even when expanding our thoughts beyond those ingrained boundaries, it is still a part of us. There are other ways, but America must learn to be brave enough to try them.
Two native American sayings seems appropriate to this discussion (in spite of my earlier protestations):

There is nothing so strong as gentleness. Nothing so gentle as real strength.

and

To give dignity to a man is above all things.

Together, they speak a type of wisdom too, and advocate for a kind of cooperative, yet steady resolve for avoiding conflict.

Thanks for coming by.