A Passion for Proverbs
I recently learned about a field of study dedicated to the collection and study of proverbs: Paremiology. As someone who greatly appreciates cleverly conveyed wisdom, this discovery made me both curious and happy.
Proverbs (short pithy sayings that state a general truth or offer a piece of advice) are part of a society’s oral tradition, passed down from generation to generation. According to an article on the Yale University website, Knowledge is power: Anthropology of Proverbs, the role of proverbs is to impart knowledge, offer advice, teach or reinforce morals, aid in making arguments, relieve interpersonal tensions, and console or inspire others. “Unlike jokes or rhymes, proverbs are not simply taught to children by repetition. They are interwoven into daily speech such as stories told by grandparents or instructions given by parents, and find their way into everyday conversation.”
Scientists have discovered proverbs that date back thousands of years, including many created by ancient Sumerian scribes from 2,000 BCE. Many of these proverbs still ring true today, such as, “Tell a lie; then if you tell the truth, it will be deemed a lie.”
Proverbs share values that are important to a society. In some cultures, proverbs are viewed as a way to perpetuate wisdom across generations, and learning them is considered an important part of a child’s education and maturation process. For example, many of the proverbs from the Mongo people of the Congo emphasize themes such as family obligation and respect for authority:
The older one is, the greater the respect.
The young cannot teach tradition to the old.
Before judging others, judge yourself.
It is better to hunger than to steal.
Help received today is returned tomorrow.
Apparently, I am not the only one with a passion for proverbs. I found many proverb collections on the internet, and here are a few from around the world that I want to share:
Fall seven times, stand up eight. (Japanese proverb)
The reputation of a thousand years may be determined by the conduct of one hour. (Japanese proverb)
Shared joy is a double joy; shared sorrow is half a sorrow. (Swedish proverb)
Who begins too much accomplishes little. (German proverb)
Whoever gossips to you will gossip about you. (Spanish proverb)
There is no shame in not knowing; the shame lies in not finding out. (Russian proverb)
Before you score, you first must have a goal. (Greek proverb)
A beautiful thing is never perfect. (Egyptian proverb)
My favorite is a Cuban proverb that my dad would have loved because it perfectly supports the theme of interconnectedness that he cared so much about: “When the sun rises, it rises for everyone.”
