Info dumping
"I don't understand the phrase 'Blood is thicker than water'. It just seems pedantic and ignorant of abusive families." Remus commented to Severus in the middle of their homework session.
"Actually, the full quote is 'Blood of the covenant is thicker than water of the womb'. It's saying that chosen family is more important that biological. The opposite of the way people use it." Severus explained.
"Really?"
"Yes, that actually happens a lot. 'Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back.' It's encouraging curiosity. 'It's better to be feared than loved, if you can't be both.' It's saying that it isn't better to be feared than loved if you can't have both, the preferred outcome. 'The love of money is the root of all evil.' Money isn't the problem in itself human obsession, specifically the rich's obsession with money, is what's dangerous. 'History repeats itself, first as tragedy then as farce.' History doesn't just repeat itself tragically, it does it humorously. 'Rome wasn't built in a day, but it burnt in one.' It can take a long time to create something, but a short time to destroy it. I can go on."
Remus was speechless. "Is that all really true? Why doesn't anyone know the real quotes?"
"it's true as I can find. And people don't know the real quotes because people have used them to promote their own beliefs so much that the actual belief pushed by it has been mostly forgotten."
"That's...kinda fucked up."
"Very." Severus answered with a smile, before turning back to his essay.
Remus had a feeling this wouldn't be the last time they had a conversation about this.