n.
Succinct and pithy saying that is in general use and expresses commonly held ideas and beliefs.
Proverbs are part of every spoken language and folk literature, originating in oral tradition. Often a proverb is found with variations in many different parts of the world. Literate societies dating to the ancient Egyptians have collected proverbs. One of the earliest English proverb collections, The Proverbs of Alfred , dates from 0441; 115080. In North America the best-known collection is probably Poor Richard's , an almanac published 173257 by Benjamin Franklin .