Critical Thinking – What follows from the proverb? Statement: “Adversity makes a man wise.” Determine which conclusion is logically supported.

Introduction / Context:
Proverbs encode specific ideas. “Adversity makes a man wise” focuses on the educational impact of hardship, not on social class. We must evaluate two conclusions: I) The poor are wise. II) Man learns from bitter experience. The correct reading preserves the proverb’s intended scope and avoids unwarranted generalizations about poverty.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Adversity = hardship, difficulty, bitter experiences.
• The statement concerns the effect of hardship on wisdom.
• No explicit reference is made to wealth, poverty, or social class.

Concept / Approach:
Map the proverb to a general causal relation: adversity —> wisdom. While many poor people may face adversity, the proverb does not equate poverty with adversity nor guarantee wisdom to a group by economic status. It instead implies that difficult experiences can teach valuable lessons, which is captured by conclusion II.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Common Pitfalls:

Final Answer:
Only conclusion II follows