Proverbs are the wisdom of the ages. (German). "Proverbs were anterior to books, and formed the "Proverbs are the abridgments of wisdom."- "In ancient days, tradition says, When knowledge was much stinted- What wise men thought, by prudence taught, And proverbs sage, from age to age, In every mouth abounded. O Blessings on the men of yore, For human use invented. Blackwood's Magazine, 1864. "I said that I loved the wise proverb, Brief, simple, and deep; For it I'd exchange the great poem That sends us to sleep. Bryan Waller Procter. Proverbs are the wisdom of the street. (English). Proverbs bear age and he who would do well may view himself in them as in a looking-glass. (Italian). Proverbs lie on the lips of fools. (English). Saith Solomon the wise, a good wife's a good prize. (Eng lish). Solomon made a book of proverbs, but a book of proverbs never made Solomon. (English). The common sayings of the multitude are too true to be laughed at. (Welsh). The popular proverb says, "One root of grass has one root of grass's dew to nourish it," and again it is said "Forest birds have no stored grain, but heaven and earth are broad." (Chinese). The fox has a hundred proverbs to tell about ninety-nine fowls. (Osmanli). Sometimes this saying is rendered, "The fox has a hundred proverbs; ninety-nine are about poultry,' the meaning being that men are most familiar with the proverbs that apply to matters with which they have had some experience. The legs of the lame hang loose; so is a parable in the mouth of fools. (Hebrew). "Take away the legs of a lame man; and so-a proverb which is in the mouth of fools."Stuart's Translation of Prov. xxvi : 7. The maxims of men disclose their hearts. (French). The phrases most commonly used by men indicate "A man's conversation is the mirror of his thoughts, so the maxims of a people may be considered as a medium which reflects with tolerable accuracy the existing state of their manners and ways of thinking."-John Francis Davis. The old saying long proved true shall never be believed. (Gaelic). There are forty proverbs about the bear, and the forty are mere rubbish concerning him. (Osmanli). There is no proverb which is not true. (English). There is something wise in every proverb. (Arabian). Thomas Fuller said that a proverb "is much matter decocted into few words," and that the few words were always counted to be "words of wisdom" and "dear to the true intellectual aristocracy of a nation," is abundantly proved by their use and preservation. "To the old cat," says the proverb, “give a tender mouse." (Italian). We have many coarse proverbs but of good meaning. (German). What flowers are to gardens, spices to food, gems to a garment, and stars to heaven; such are proverbs interwoven in speech. (Hebrew). When a man makes a proverb he does not break it. (German). When a poor man makes a proverb it does not spread. (Oji-West-African). Generally throughout Africa poverty is considered not so much a misfortune as a crime; hence the words of the destitute, no matter how wise, are unheeded. When the occasion comes the proverb comes. (OjiWest-African). Wise men mak' proverbs and fools repeat them. (Scotch). With the smooth-tongued it is proverbial that there is no fidelity. (Osmanli). SINGULAR PROVERBS "Ahem! 99 as Dick Smith said when he swallowed the dishcloth. (English). "Make a virtue of necessity." (English). Cold water to hot water; hot water to cold water. (Telugu) There is a great advantage to be gained by uniting, as in marriage, two people of different dispositions. Digging for a worm, up rose a snake. (Bengalese). "A_ jest driven too far brings home hate." (English). Great doings at Gregory's; heated the oven twice for a custard. (English). A sarcastic reference to one who seeks notoriety by display. Having a mouth and eating rice by the nose. (Bengalese). Applied to one who seeks to perform some task in a difficult way or by impossible means, when a simple and easy way is at hand. He who has toothache must cut off his tongue; he who has eye-ache, his hand. (Osmanli). This singular piece of advice is based on the belief that the contact of the tongue with an aching tooth and the touching of a sore eye with the hand increases the pain. His mouth is shoes. (Osmanli). Or "This mouth is a pair of shoes"-that is, he talks too much and what he says is vulgar. If it happens, it happens; if it does not happen, what will happen? (Persian). An expression of indifference as to the results of any particular course of action. If they come, they come not; and if they come not, they come. (English). Sometimes the first part of this proverb only is quoted, and sometimes the last part. It is of Northumberland origin. "The cattle of people living hereabout, turned into the common pasture, did by custom use to return to their home at night, unless intercepted by the freebooters and borderers. If, therefore, those borderers came, their cattle came not; if they came not, their cattle surely returned.”—John Ray. If you cut off from your tongue and roast and eat it, you have no meat. (Uji-West-African). This proverb is intended to refer to people who seek to settle disputes and secure their rights by carrying on a lawsuit against their own relations. 'Tis better to yield one's rights than to secure them at too great a cost. The Uji people have another proverb that is closely allied to this. They say: "Though the beast is dainty-mouthed, it does not eat its collar-bell." Though fond of dainties, even the dog will not swallow the ornament about its neck be it never so attractive. If your wife becomes a widow, who will cook for you? (Telugu). The Telugu people sometimes refer to a blockhead in the proverb, "When his brother-in-law said to him, 'O brother-in-law! your wife has become a widow,' he cries bitterly.' If you see your neighbour's beard on fire, water your own. (Martinique Creole). Advice given to people who, seeing the results of wrongdoing in others, refuse to turn from their evil ways. See "Wit and Humour in Proverbs." "One man's beard is burning, another goes to light his cigarette by it." |