Read this passage from i know why the caged bird sings: people, unable to go to school, were more educated and even more intelligent than college professors. she encouraged me to listen carefully to what country people called mother wit. that in those homely sayings was couched the wisdom of generations. what impact does angelou's use of the phrase "the wisdom of generations" have on this excerpt? it conveys the fact that she does not believe that educated people can be truly wise. it conveys the humor at the heart of the sayings that she is referring to. it conveys the respect she has for what people without a formal education say. it conveys her confusion over what mrs. flowers is trying to teach her.