Gathers more than eighteen thousand proverbs from around the world and arranged by subject from ability to zeal

The Prentice-Hall Encyclopedia of World Proverbs: A Treasury of Wit and Wisdom Through the Ages

Mieder, Wolfgang

Business & Money

Prentice Hall Direct

Politics & Social Sciences

Social Sciences

From "Look before you leap" and "You can't sell the cow and have the milk too" to "There's no fool like an old fool" and "Practice what you preach," the wisdom of proverbs has delighted people throughout the ages. Now, Proverbs Are Never Out of Season provides an engaging look at the significance of traditional proverbs and their variations in the modern world. Wolfgang Mieder takes a fascinating tour of the many roles proverbs have played and continue to play today--from sales pitch to propagandistic tool. He looks at how we adapt proverbs to rapidly changing social attitudes--the original wording of proverbs changes to fit modern advertising slogans or political rhetoric, misogynist sayings become feminist slogans, and late medieval woodcuts illustrating proverbs find their modern equivalents in political cartoons and comic strips. In an investigation of the origin of the proverb "Early to bed and early to rise," Mieder not only reveals that Benjamin Franklin was by no means the coiner of this popular saying, but that of the 1,044 proverbs in Poor Richard's Almanack, only 5% were actually coined by Franklin himself (among them "There will be sleeping enough in the grave" and "Laziness travels so slowly, that poverty soon overtakes it"). Mieder also traces the origin of the proverb "A picture is worth a thousand words," back to an advertising slogan used in 1921. He points out the truth of such medical proverbs as "An apple a day keeps the doctor away," and "Stuff a cold and starve a fever," revealing that while this medical advice may be quite general, it expresses some common-sense insights gained from experience and supported by medical scholarship. And he shows how the frequently cited "Don't throw the baby out with the bath water" found its way from 16th century Germany to the United States (Among those who have used it in their literary works are Martin Luther, George Bernard Shaw, and Günter Grass). Wolfgang Mieder, the world's foremost proverb expert, has been studying proverbs for most of his life. He has published more than fifty books on his favorite subject, including the the mammoth Dictionary of American Proverbs. Complete with thirty-eight illustrations, here is a rich compendium of the many uses of proverbs throughout history and undeniable proof that proverbs are never out of season.

Proverbs Are Never Out of Season: Popular Wisdom in the Modern Age

Literature & Fiction

History & Criticism

Oxford University Press

"Right Makes Might": Proverbs and the American Worldview

In 1860 Abraham Lincoln employed the proverb, Right makes might, (opposite of the more aggressive Might makes right) in his famed Cooper Union address. While Lincoln did not originate the proverb, his use of it in this critical speech indicates that the 14th century phrase had taken on new ethical and democratic connotations in the 19th century. In this collection, famed scholar of proverbs Wolfgang Mieder explores the multifaceted use and function of proverbs through the history of the United States, from their early beginnings up through their use by today's well-known politicians, including Barack Obama, Hillary Rodham Clinton, and Bernie Sanders. Building on previous publications and unpublished research, Mieder explores sociopolitical aspects of the American worldview as expressed through the use of proverbs in politics, women's rights, and the civil rights movement. By looking at the use of proverbial phrases, Mieder demonstrates how one traditional phrase can take on numerous expressive roles over time and how they continue to play a key role in our contemporary moment.

History

Americas

Indiana University Press

In 1860 Abraham Lincoln employed the proverb, Right makes might, (opposite of the more aggressive Might makes right) in his famed Cooper Union address. While Lincoln did not originate the proverb, his use of it in this critical speech indicates that the 14th century phrase had taken on new ethical and democratic connotations in the 19th century. In this collection, famed scholar of proverbs Wolfgang Mieder explores the multifaceted use and function of proverbs through the history of the United States, from their early beginnings up through their use by today's well-known politicians, including Barack Obama, Hillary Rodham Clinton, and Bernie Sanders. Building on previous publications and unpublished research, Mieder explores sociopolitical aspects of the American worldview as expressed through the use of proverbs in politics, women's rights, and the civil rights movement. By looking at the use of proverbial phrases, Mieder demonstrates how one traditional phrase can take on numerous expressive roles over time and how they continue to play a key role in our contemporary moment.

The Wisdom of Many explores research on proverbs of many cultures. More than twenty essays written by scholars of such diverse disciplines as folklore, literature, psychology, linguistics, and anthropology illustrate the significance of traditional proverbs and trace variations of proverbs over time, drawing on African, Chinese, Spanish, Finnish, Irish, and Yiddish examples.

The Wisdom of Many: Essays on the Proverb

Biographies & Memoirs

Arts & Literature

University of Wisconsin Press

The Wisdom of Many explores research on proverbs of many cultures. More than twenty essays written by scholars of such diverse disciplines as folklore, literature, psychology, linguistics, and anthropology illustrate the significance of traditional proverbs and trace variations of proverbs over time, drawing on African, Chinese, Spanish, Finnish, Irish, and Yiddish examples.

Proverbs, though anonymous, speak with great authority, and politicians from classical to modern times have deployed them effectively in their rhetoric. In looking at political proverbs in the twentieth century, Wolfgang Mieder—the leading expert on proverbs today—offers proof of the power of these bits of borrowed wisdom to serve any master or any purpose, for good or ill. Mieder first singles out Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf, in which the Führer used proverbs to advocate the deadly goals of Nazism. Pitted against Hitler’s rhetoric is that of Winston Churchill, who was, Mieder demonstrates, as gifted with the proverb as any leader in this century. He moves next to America and Harry S. Truman, whose proverbial plain English won him the trust of the people. The politics of the Cold War made ample use of proverbs as well, a trend Mieder illustrates through cartoons and caricatures of the time. He also traces the origin, history, meaning, and use of two proverbial slurs, one against Native Americans (“The only good Indian is a dead Indian”) and the other against Asian Americans (“No tickee, no washee.”) The Politics of Proverbs offers a historical view, but also shows that new proverbs are continually coined and passed into common parlance, and old proverbs are updated to suit modern situations. Mieder’s lively and instructive examples show how anyone, whether on the political grandstand or the back porch, can exploit the supposed wisdom of proverbs to justify his or her opinions and actions. By exposing the use and function of the proverb in political rhetoric, this book alerts readers to the possibilities and dangers—and the expressive power—of these not so quaint sayings.

Politics of Proverbs: From Traditional Wisdom to Proverbial Stereotypes

Proverbs offer a concise record of folk wisdom and have appeared in oral tradition, literature, art, and popular culture for centuries. Written by the foremost authority on proverbs, this reference gives high school students, undergraduates, and general readers a concise yet comprehensive overview of proverbs in world culture. The volume begins with definitions and classifications of proverbs, followed by discussions of several notable examples. The book then examines approaches to the study of proverbs and the place of proverbs in literature, politics, popular songs, and everyday life. It closes with a bibliography of print and electronic resources and a glossary. Included are numerous illustrations.
Just about everyone has heard at least one proverb, and most people have heard more. Proverbs offer a concise record of folk wisdom and have appeared in oral tradition, literature, art, and popular culture for centuries. One of the most varied and fascinating types of folklore, proverbs are studied at all levels and are of interest to a wide range of audiences. Written by the foremost authority on proverbs, this reference gives high school students, undergraduates, and general readers a concise yet comprehensive overview of proverbs in world culture.
The volume begins with definitions and classifications of proverbs and a discussion of their origin and dissemination. It then discusses several representative proverbs from around the world. This is followed by a review of scholarship on proverbs. The book next looks at how several proverbs have appeared in political speeches, literature, popular culture, and everyday life. The handbook closes with a bibliography of print and electronic resources and a glossary. Included are numerous photos illustrating the role of proverbs around the world.

Proverbs: A Handbook (Greenwood Folklore Handbooks)

Greenwood

Few figures are as famous, mysterious, and influential as the Pied Piper, the notorious catcher of rats and children. With his magical music he was able to bewitch anyone and anything to follow him blindly, and he continues to influence the contemporary imagination. This book overviews the history of the Pied Piper legend and its lasting significance. Included are excerpts from numerous texts, along with examples of the Pied Piper in art, children's books, political cartoons, and popular culture. The volume also reviews scholarship on the Pied Piper and lists print and electronic resources. The most thorough work of its kind, this book is essential for high school students and general readers.
Rats! They fought the dogs and killed the cats, says Robert Browning in his beloved poem, The Pied Piper of Hamelin. Few figures are as famous, enigmatic, and influential as the Pied Piper, the notorious catcher of rats and children, whose magical music could enchant anyone and anything to follow him to destruction. Written for high school students and general readers, this book surveys the origin and history of the Pied Piper legend and discusses its significance in literature, art, film, popular culture, and political criticism.
The volume begins by examining the origins of the Pied Piper legend in 13th-century Germany and the transmission of the folktale across the centuries. It then provides numerous examples of the Pied Piper legend, along with a generous selection of texts. The book surveys scholarship on the Pied Piper and discusses the presence of the the figure in contemporary culture around the world, often as a metaphor for political leaders who blindly lead their followers in times of war. An extensive bibliography concludes the volume. A large selection of illustrations demonstrates the pervasive influence of the Pied Piper across cultures. Students will value this book for its illumination of different cultural traditions and its relation of modern film, art, and everyday life to the Pied Piper.

The Pied Piper: A Handbook (Greenwood Folklore Handbooks)

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Books by Mieder, Wolfgang

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Mieder, Wolfgang. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

The Prentice-Hall Encyclopedia of World Proverbs: A Treasury of Wit and Wisdom Through the Ages

The Prentice-Hall Encyclopedia of World Proverbs: A Treasury of Wit and Wisdom Through the Ages

Proverbs Are Never Out of Season: Popular Wisdom in the Modern Age

"Right Makes Might": Proverbs and the American Worldview

"Right Makes Might": Proverbs and the American Worldview

The Wisdom of Many: Essays on the Proverb

The Wisdom of Many: Essays on the Proverb

Politics of Proverbs: From Traditional Wisdom to Proverbial Stereotypes

Proverbs: A Handbook (Greenwood Folklore Handbooks)

The Pied Piper: A Handbook (Greenwood Folklore Handbooks)