A proverb is a short, concise statement that presents a moral or a truth about human behavior. Proverbs are most often based on experience, common sense, or observation. Proverbs rely on figurative language such as metaphor, simile, alliteration, or rhyme. Consider the following examples:
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Metaphor: "Don't wash your dirty linen in public."
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Simile: "Experience is the mother of wisdom."
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Alliteration: "Rob Peter to pay Paul."
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Rhyme: "Red sky in morning, sailors take warning."
Proverbs are often written down and can be found in literature. Benjamin Franklin wrote many proverbs and used proverbs from other sources in his Poor Richard's Almanac, and Miguel de Cervantes Don Quixote includes proverbs. Probably the most well known written proverbs are found in the Book of Proverbs in the Old Testament of the Bible. The Book of Proverbs is a collection of moral and philosophical sayings. Previously thought to be written entirely by King Solomon, son of David, scholars have determined that the material comes from different periods in the history of ancient Israel.
