If many hands make light work, how can too many cooks spoil the broth? If you'll find the best advice on your pillow, are proverbs even useful? How come these nuggets of wisdom and truth are so similar the world over? Alice O'Neill takes a tour of more than 1500 proverbs from cultures around the world, underscoring that a proverb's invaluable purpose is to make people pause for a moment and reflect, often revealing a much deeper truth. Gathered widely from ancient (sacred) texts, aboriginal beliefs, political tracts, literary classics, and contemporary advertisements, and illustrated with beautiful engravings and drawings, this collection makes clear the power that resides in a few words.