Living with Wolves & Its Dangers
What are the consequences of living with wolves? Let’s examine this intriguing Russian proverb and think about its different possible interpretations.
С волками жить – по-вольчи выть.
Russian Proverb
If you live with wolves, you have to howl.
This phrase can have two related meanings.
First, it is equivalent to the English expression “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” In other words, respect the customs of the place you are in.
If you are hanging out with a wolf pack, then howling is appropriate. Don’t try to impose your own ideas of human speech!
The second interpretation of this Russian saying is a bit darker. It expresses the idea that if you hang out with bad people, you will begin to copy their habits. Living with wolves can be dangerous!
This meaning, of course, relies on the idea that wolves are dangerous and even evil. We often stereotype wolves negatively in English, too. Just think of the common phrase “wolves in sheep’s clothing.”
The Polish equivalent “When in Rome, do as the Romans do” also relates to the animal world. You can read about it here.
Background photo credit: Marek Szturc on Unsplash
