Proverbial lore errors

Proverbs exist in such great numbers that their so-called wisdom proves to be a maze of contradictions, countryside ignorance and naivety. Anyone can justify anything by reciting the appropriate proverb. 'There's no smoke without a fire', 'You can't judge a book by its cover', 'Seeing is believing' and 'It all comes out in the wash', are some of the saws that advise forming judgements more quickly or more slowly. There is also 'Judge not, lest you be judged by the same measure that you judge'. The excessive use of proverbs, quotations from the wise, figures of speech and the homely metaphors and analogies they embody, may take the place of thinking and retard development of an individual's own language and reasoning tools.