#1 - Nigerian Proverb: Proverbs Are The Chariots of Words

Reflections on the place of proverbs in personal/professional communication.

Proverbs on Blast is a newsletter that publishes reflection on PROVERBS and the gems they offer for personal and professional growth. Posts are written by a learner on a quest for more wisdom (me). Keep reading. Subscribe for more. Share this post.

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Horse race and Roman chariots. Image from pixabay.com

The Yorubas of West Africa believe that “proverbs are the chariots of words, so when words are lost, we use proverbs to find them.”  Growing up, every adult I met had a communication stable with several proverbial horses primed for dispatch to find missing words and expressions. They crept into ordinary conversations. Shaped mindsets. Influenced decisions. Illustrated mumbo jumbo. People used them to shorten speeches, add flair, and transform to memorable speakers. They even hung in the frosty air of disciplinary sessions.

Some proverbs painted vivid illustrations. Many evoked laughter. A few struck terror or revolted with disgust. They included beautiful alliterations, stunning wisecracks, and elegant tapestries of unlikely words. As a child, I found them fascinating and salivated for them whenever the adults had their conversations. As an adult, I have come to appreciate the profundity of proverbs even more and love how they encompass every facet of life.

Proverbs Help Retrieve Missing Words

Picture yourself drawing a blank at a crucial time when a lot hangs on your words. Or imagine a scenario where you are able to speak but the words that roll off your tongue spark a mini WWIII in your gathering. Words are tricky. It takes a lot to recall them when needed, and to get the right ones as needed.

Hence, there is no guarantee that you will always have the words to express what you wish to say. You can’t even be sure that when you do, they will be the right words. But proverbs offer a way out. This substack account was set up to explore proverbs because of the promise offered in this one that, “Proverbs are the chariots of words. When words are lost, we use proverbs to find them.”

The fastest human sprinter has nothing on a good chariot and charioteer. This proverb reminds that at those critical moments when you must speak but suddenly forget what to say or how best to say it, proverbs can help. They are like chariots cleaned, oiled, and ready to take off on a mission that requires speedy retrieval of the right words.

A dear uncle of mine exemplifies this so I know it’s possible. He is a master charioteer of proverbs and they roll off his tongue with sophisticated precision. Whether his words are for instruction, mirth, discipline, or consolation, my uncle is one of the most memorable speakers I know in hilarious or solemn times. He spews his brand of wisdom effortlessly through proverbs, the kind that makes the listener’s head spin in comprehension, admiration, and elation. Many of my uncle’s audience have similar testimonials—we leave conversations with him enriched with a combo gift of a brain tease, mind cleanse, creativity boost, clarity, and weeks load of laughter. YOU can be that way too. I know I want to be and I’m working on it.

Become a Charioteer of Proverbs

Why do you need to develop a personal communication arsenal with proverbs? Why study proverbs, deconstruct their many parts, reflect on the imageries, ponder their meanings, analyze their applicability to what you know, are going through, or dream about? Proverbs are applicable to people, situations, and things. Take the time to learn and you may find yourself less stuck in embarrassing moments when you can’t find words at all or find yourself short of the right ones.

Embrace proverbs as part of your personal and professional development and you may enjoy the following benefits, among many others.

5 Benefits of Embracing Proverbs

1. Long-winded in speech? Proverbs can help you gain brevity and clarity. Build a proverbial stable and knock off entire paragraphs (spoken or written) with proverbs. Who knows? You may leave your audiences scrambling to write treatises that unpack your one- or two-sentence liners.

2. Don’t think quickly enough on your feet? Summon the right chariot from your proverbial stable and you may not need to think so hard anymore. Each proverb has a latent potency that can transform conversations. Study proverbs and learn to see the different patterns of how they are constructed. The more proverbs you know, the easier it will become for you to recall as needed. You may also develop the ability to create memorable and concise illustrations on the spot.

3. Challenged by the need to give feedback? You can sweeten your presentation of needed criticism with the right proverbs, however negative its content must be. Whether to a superior or a peer or someone under your supervision, hit the right note and tone with the right combination of proverbs. Build morale. Preserve relationships. Nurture growth. Foster positive change.

3. Need to explain technical details? Chances are that your listeners may get overwhelmed with too much of technicalities. Consider crunching to the bare bones of it. Use all the showy graphics you must to make your presentation visually appealing for your audience. But go a step further and illustrate with one or more proverbs. With the right ones, you’ll challenge their brains, spark their imagination, and leave their minds seared with the indelible memory of the core message.

5. Desire to influence change? Proverbs work on the imagination to fire up connections with different objects and scenarios in many possible configurations. In addition to its ability to influence conversations, it can also shape lives. There are proverbs that condense ideologies, values, lifestyles, and roadmaps into just a few words. Imagine getting stuck and you’re able to find the right proverbs that help you reach inward to diagnose, describe, and develop a roadmap for your next steps? It’s possible.

But is it enough to study and know enough proverbs?

Proverbs Must Be Applied, Not Just Known

Years ago, I heard many smart adults quote profound proverbs. Their knowledge and ease of recall intrigued me. The potency of the wisdom they expressed filled me with awe. Their words made them seem invincible, incapable of failing. Yet, not all the seemingly wise adults of my childhood turned out well. Some now ooze underachievement from every pore. Recollections of some of the proverbs they quoted jar in silent indictment of their failure to apply the knowledge laden in the proverbs they proudly quoted in my hearing as a child.

Perhaps they were content with just knowing and quoting profound proverbs to elicit respect and applause from adoring children like I was. However, knowing more of their story, the jarring discord of their underperformance is a screaming siren that, for them, or anyone else, only applied knowledge is power. It is not enough to know or believe in the nuggets of wisdom that each single proverb aggregates. Knowledge is useful only when applied.

So, I dug deep and found that there are proverbs in every culture, not just in mine. Some were intended for mirth, but most, if not all, were meant for reflection, application, and transformation. I can testify that they have been useful for clarity, encouragement, and aspiration in my studies, work, and life generally. Whether for sense-making, brevity or profundity in speeches, or introspection, proverbs are a channel for personal development and growth. Again, when applied.

Brainstorm Proverbs With Me?

In this newsletter, Proverbs on Blast, the goal is to plumb the depths of different proverbs. By digging into their hidden gems, we can unlock their wisdom for leadership and life. More importantly, brainstorm ways to apply them. How far across generations, cultures, and timelines will be needed to find proverbs that are relevant and useful for 21st Century challenges? The world will be the oyster.

I invite you to become part of the reflection and conversation on proverbs on this platform. Feel free to comment below each post. Share each post with others. Share proverbs from your culture for our collective growth. Craft your own proverb. Who says you can’t? Why not since you can?

In short, bring your wisdom here. We all can benefit from it.