Touching as they do upon so wide a range of human concerns, proverbs are necessarily associated with written literature. Sometimes they are created by it; much oftener they are woven into its texture. Personal anecdotes turn upon them in many instances; and not unfrequently they have figured in national history, or have helped to preserve the memory of events, manners, usages, and ideas, some of which have left little other record of their existence. From the wealth of illustration thus inviting my hand, I have sought to gather whatever might elucidate and enliven my subject without overlaying it. In this way I hope to have overcome the general objection alleged by Isaac Disraeli against collections of proverbs, on the ground of their "unreadableness." It is true, as he says, that "taking in succession a multitude of insulated proverbs, their slippery nature resists all hope of retaining one in a hundred;" but this remark, I venture to believe, does not apply to the present collection, in which proverbs are not insulated, but presented in orderly, coherent groups, and accompanied with appropriate accessories, so as to fit them for being considered with some continuity of thought.
CONTENTS.
| PAGE | |
| WOMEN, LOVE, MARRIAGE, ETC. | [1] |
| PARENTS AND CHILDREN | [26] |
| YOUTH AND AGE | [29] |
| NATURAL CHARACTER | [32] |
| HOME | [36] |
| PRESENCE, ABSENCE, SOCIAL INTERCOURSE | [39] |
| FRIENDSHIP | [42] |
| CO-OPERATION, RECIPROCITY, SUBORDINATION | [47] |
| LUCK, FORTUNE, MISFORTUNE | [51] |
| FORETHOUGHT, CARE, CAUTION | [61] |
| PATIENCE, FORTITUDE, PERSEVERANCE | [66] |
| INDUSTRY AND IDLENESS | [71] |
| THRIFT | [73] |
| MODERATION, EXCESS | [77] |
| THOROUGHGOING, THE WHOLE HOG | [84] |
| WILL, INCLINATION, DESIRE | [89] |
| CUSTOM, HABIT, USE | [96] |
| SELF-CONCEIT, SPURIOUS PRETENSIONS | [101] |
| SELF-LOVE, SELF-INTEREST, SELF-RELIANCE | [104] |
| SELFISHNESS IN GIVING, SPURIOUS BENEVOLENCE | [113] |
| INGRATITUDE | [116] |
| THE MOTE AND THE BEAM | [119] |
| FAULTS, EXCUSES, UNEASY CONSCIOUSNESS | [122] |
| FALSE APPEARANCES AND PRETENCES, HYPOCRISY, DOUBLE DEALING, TIME-SERVING | [127] |
| OPPORTUNITY | [138] |
| UNCERTAINTY OF THE FUTURE, HOPE | [141] |
| EXPERIENCE | [148] |
| CHOICE, DILEMMA, COMPARISON | [152] |
| SHIFTS, CONTRIVANCES, STRAINED USES | [155] |
| ADVICE | [159] |
| DETRACTION, CALUMNY, COMMON FAME, GOOD REPUTE | [161] |
| TRUTH, FALSEHOOD, HONESTY | [165] |
| SPEECH, SILENCE | [168] |
| THREATENING, BOASTING | [171] |
| SECRETS | [177] |
| RETRIBUTION, PENAL JUSTICE | [182] |
| WEALTH, POVERTY, PLENTY, WANT | [187] |
| BEGINNING AND END | [191] |
| OFFICE | [195] |
| LAW AND LAWYERS | [200] |
| PHYSIC, PHYSICIANS, MAXIMS RELATING TO HEALTH | [203] |
| CLERGY | [208] |
| SEASONS, WEATHER | [211] |
| NATIONAL AND LOCAL CHARACTERISTICS, LOCAL ALLUSIONS | [216] |
PROVERBS OF ALL NATIONS.
WOMEN, LOVE, MARRIAGE, ETC.
What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.