A treasure trove of over 3000 proverbs, humorous and wise anecdotes, and popular quotations–ancient and modern–from throughout the Arab and Islamic world. Squeeze the past like a sponge, smell the present like a rose, and send a kiss to the future Proverbs are universal manifestations of human wisdom, humor, customs, and myths common to all the peoples of the world. Proverbs have been Hussain Mohammed Al-Amily’s passion since he was a small boy, listening to the grown-ups chatter in his Lebanese village. Later, in his homeland of Iraq, he became enchanted by the witty folk sayings that were part of everyday discourse. Now, for this book, he has brought together over 3,000 proverbs, humorous and wise anecdotes, and popular quotations from throughout the vast Arab and Islamic world. Within this intriguing compilation are proverbs that have their roots in the ancient civilizations of Persia and Sumeria, along with those of Kurdish, Turkish, and Andalusian origin.
