A proverb is a condensed formula and incisor which should not be satisfied to read with the first degree because it contains a morals or an experimental truth which one considers it useful to remind. The proverbs are often very old and are generally used as Argument of authority. Their use within the framework of a Argumentation can thus reach with the Sophisme. All the proverbs do not reflect reality, it is necessary to take retreat vis-a-vis certain assertions. One will note besides, by them seeing gathered, that certain proverbs contradict others of them, following, for example, that they celebrate the virtues of the audacity, or on the contrary, of prudence.

The proverb is not inevitably incisive, it can be banal, but it is especially generic/of general interest; but it is also fixed in language, (it forms an autonomous block) but it can comprise alternatives. It can be picturesque, metaphorical, but it is not an obligation. Its author was forgotten, contrary to the quotation or the apophtegme.

The proverbs belong to the linguistic inheritance of a country. The question of their conservation arises then (i.e. of their written setting) and above all the collection of this knowledge diffuse, more rural than urban and especially carried by the old generations. This knowledge tends to be lost with the movements of urbanization, modernization, schooling of the last decades which develop, standardized, rationalized the written culture and cut its local roots, rural and traditional.

Proverbs of the world

• List of proverbs of Black Africa
• List of German proverbs
• List of Algerian proverbs
• List of Amerindian proverbs
• List of English proverbs
• List of Arab proverbs
• List of Berber proverbs
• List of Breton proverbs
• List of Chinese proverbs, Chéngyǔ
• List of Corsican proverbs
• List of Spanish proverbs
• List of proverbs in Esperanto
• List of proverbs ewe
• List of French proverbs
• List of Indian proverbs
• List of proverbs indonésiens
• List of Italian proverbs
• List of proverbs of the Ivory Coast
• List of Japanese proverbs (Kotowaza)
• List of proverbs kabyles
• List of Latin proverbs;
• Liste of Moroccan proverbs
• Liste of Polish proverbs
• Liste of Portuguese proverbs
• Liste of proverbs sundanais
• Liste of Tunisian proverbs

Examples of proverbs

• “Two knaves well met”
• “With horse given, one does not look at the support”
• “After the rain the good weather”
• “That which wants can”
• “Do not judge a book by its cover”
• “Better late than never”
• “One does not sell the skin of the bear before to have killed him”
• “A rolling stone gathers no moss”
• “While the cat's away the mice will play”
• “Which good wine drinks God sees”
• “Which makes the malignant fall into the ravine”
• “Which leaves to hunting, “He that will steal an egg will steal an ox” loses its place”
• “He laughs longest who laughs last”
• “Like father, like son”
• “One swallow doesn't make spring”

See too

• List of false proverbs
• Aphorism | Saying | Phrase | Quotation S| Proverbs (theater)

External bonds

• Proverbs of all the countries on the religion
• Words said to meditate!
• a list of proverbs of loves for romantic the
• What a proverb?
Chinese
• Expressions and proverbs
• Dicocitations.com (Proverbs of various countries)
• a good list of explained French proverbs
• French Proverbs, English proverbs, Proverbe romanesti
• My grandmother said, a list of amusing proverbs and expressions
• proverbs of the whole world by email!
• World Proverbs Collection, has database off proverbs sorted by origin and alphabetically.
• Proverbs off World
• Classification of proverbs according to the countries where they are identical