Standard philosophical adages such as “Time heals all wounds” and “Violence never solves anything” often function less as wisdom and more as management tools. They preserve the status quo by encouraging patience in the face of extraction.

In colonial or otherwise oppressive contexts, “wisdom” is forced to evolve. It shifts from the philosophical to the tactical. Under French rule in North Africa, for example, family education had to pivot. The focus moved from honour to survival:

+ “Do not fight for objects” became a rule, recognising that material things are a trap for the powerless.
+ “Years lost are better than years in pain” became a calculation of biological continuity over temporary freedom.

This is not traditional wisdom; it is a survival manual written in code. It trades the dignity of ownership for the preservation of life. From afar, it looks like passivity. Up close, it is architecture.