Adage: “a proverb or short statement expressing a general truth”

Adages usually offer advice on life, wisdom or a truth. We often use them in everyday speech to explain or impart knowledge without realizing it..

Adages have been around for centuries. From 1732 to 1758 Benjamin Franklin published Poor Richard’s Alamac. In those days almanac were popular because they contained weather forecasts, household tips and tricks and other fun facts. Franklin under the pen man “Poor Richard.

Well known adages atrributed to Benjamin include:

“A penny saved is a penny earned.”

“Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.”

“Well done is better than well said.”

I love adages. My mother loved adages and would post them on mirrors and other display sites at home and at my dad’s business on a green board. In fact, I love adages so much that I started a “Thought for the Week” email distribution list in January 1993 on my computer. Every Monday morning I would send a “Thought for the Week” to a list of family and friends. I did that until I retired in 2010. I let the practice lapse for many years but resumed it last year on Facebook

I have gathered many sources for “thoughts” over the years and kept a running list of them. The greates benefit of doing this is that I kept in touch with many family members and friends that I otherwise would not have done. I received many comments about the “thoughts” over the years. People enjoy getting them and let me know when one of them touches their lives in special ways.

I have my mother to thank for getting me started on what has become a habit. The cost and time involved in sending my “Thoughts for the Week” is negligible for me but can have special significance and meaning to recipients.

A few of my favorite adages are:

“Speak only well of people and you need never whisper.” Fortune Cookie

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” Eleanor Roosevelt

“Actions speak louder than word.” Author Unknown