CHAPTER IV

National Idiosyncrasies -- The Seven Sages of Greece -- Know Thyself -- The Laconic "If" -- Ancient Greek Proverbs -- Roman Proverbs -- The Proverbs of Scotland: Strong Vein of Humour in them -- Spanish and Italian Proverbs -- The Proverbs of France -- The "Comédie des Proverbes" -- The Proverbs of Spain: their Popularity and Abundance; Historic Interest: their Bibliography -- Italian Proverbs: their Characteristics -- The Proverbs of Germany -- Chinese Adages: their Excellence -- Japanese Proverbs: their Poetry and Beauty -- Arab Sayings: their Servility: their Humour -- Eastern Delight in Stories -- African Sayings: their pithy Wisdom -- The Proverb-philosophy of the Talmud 90