Proverbs of the People: A Cento of Aphorisms Reasonably Rhymed (Classic Reprint) - Softcover

Excerpt from Proverbs of the People: A Cento of Aphorisms Reasonably Rhymed

The author of this little booklet has not attempted to rival these later Solomons in their loquacious utterances for the benefit of both the elect and uninstructed. Emerson has stated that Proverbs, like the sacred books of eachnation are the sanctuary of the intuitions. They are also an epigrammatic epitome of the common sense of the people, which neither the wit nor the jester, the satirist nor the sage, can entirely invalidate.

And there are no wiser commentaries to the prosaic tomes of Time than those proverbs which the peoples of all nations have originated. Indeed, many a proverb would serve as a fitting epitaph for mighty empires passed away.

It would be futile therefore for the writer of these pages to claim absolute originality for his production. But by casting them into a rhythmical form, after usages of eastern nations, it is hoped they may be easily memorized, and serve the apter purpose of quotation for the minister, the lecturer, the author, the orator, the lawyer, the publican, and all those wiser Philistines of our day whose modicum of morality is dispensed from their philters of wit one drop at a time.

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Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com

This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Excerpt from Proverbs of the People: A Cento of Aphorisms Reasonably Rhymed

Alas! for the fate of the social reformer,
Who finding things warm only makes things warmer.

It was from the mouth of the garrulous Polonius that Shakespeare let fall one of those inestimable pearls of wisdom wherewith his genius was so lavishly endowed: "Brevity is the soul of wit." O, brilliant truth! And as condensation is the highest attainment in the art of literary expression, whether rhythmical or rhetorical, so over the portal leading to the temple of Fame are carven in letters of gold the words Multum In Parvo.

Of late there has been a plethora of Proverbs. Some perverted from their proper use; Some cynically (and scenically) presented, to be calendered for all time; some the whimsies of a frivolous mind; some eviscerated of all wit; others the evaporation of wisdom condensed into a drop of fancy.

The author of this little booklet has not attempted to rival these later Solomons in their loquacious utterances for the benefit of both the elect and uninstructed.

About the Publisher

Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com

This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.