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The Book of Proverbs

Racial Proverbs: A Selection of the World’s Proverbs, Arranged Linguistically by Selwyn Gurney Champion. The Macmillan Company

The New Republic, June 1939, 230

If there is any truth in the notion that the thorough cataloguing of a cultural manifestation marks its demise, this imposing exhibit suggests that the Era of Proverbs is about finished (with wisecracks, perhaps, taking their place). Here, in any case, is assembled a set of tools and weapons as handsomely formed as any that ever broke ground or skull. And what an admonishment lies there, for the writers of this copy-making age, if they could but afford to seek the succinct rather than the space-filling. Or, since he who says it fumblingly gets paid more for his fumble than for a clean catch (the fumble lasting longer), might it be possible, like the Elizabethans who wrote poetry after the proverb model, to find ways of filling space with the succinct?

The balances, antitheses, ratios (a: b :: c: d), alliterations, internal rhymes, triads and periodicities that characterize the form (some of these qualities, of course, being lost in translation) make statement an event. And the pronounced overlap of proverbs across both temporal and geographical distance, the repetition of the same paradigms in different individuations, provides correction to those who would put too much stress upon doctrines of cultural subjectivism.

Proverbs never speculate at random. The folk realism, religion and symbolism of their play grow out of work; they are shaped to a purpose. The general tenor of this purpose is best revealed in the Subject-Matter Index, where we note that entries under “Caution (anticipation, foresight, forethought, precaution, prudence)” comprise nearly three columns, “Philosophy (complaisance, contentment)” over four, “Diplomacy (cunning, subtlety, tact)” five, and “Consequence” more than six and a half. Prompted to mimicry by the style, we made up a homely proverb of our own: “A good fire burns the toast.” Which, applied to the present volume, would mean: The very excellence of proverbs spoils them for straightaway reading. Rather, as here so amply assembled, they should be but sampled. Otherwise, one finds that his stream of consciousness is lulled to a drowsy murmur by flowing over pebbles.