Proverbs are the best policy: folk wisdom and American politics
Date
2005
Authors
Mieder, Wolfgang, author
Utah State University Press, publisher
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Abstract
Wolfgang Mieder, widely considered the world's greatest proverb scholar, here considers the role of proverbial speech on the American political stage from the Revolutionary War to the present. He begins his survey by discussing the origins and characteristics American proverbs and their spread across the globe hand in hand with America's international political role. He then looks at the history of the defining proverb of American democracy, "government of the people, by the people, for the people." Subsequent essays consider such matters as Abigail Adams's masterful use of politically charged proverbs the conversion of the biblical proverb "a house divided against itself cannot stand" into a political expression Frederick Douglass's proverbial prowess in the battle against racial injustice how United States presidents have employed proverbial speech in their inaugural addresses and the proverbial language in the World War II correspondence between Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill, which sharpened their communication and helped forge bonds of cooperation. Mieder concludes with an insightful, relevant examination of the significance of the ambiguous proverb "good fences make good neighbors."
Description
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Rights Access
Access is limited to the Adams State University, Colorado State University, Colorado State University Pueblo, Community College of Denver, Fort Lewis College, Metropolitan State University Denver, Regis University, University of Alaska Fairbanks, University of Colorado Boulder, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, University of Colorado Denver, University of Denver, University of Northern Colorado, University of Wyoming, Utah State University and Western Colorado University communities only.
Subject
Proverbs, American
Proverbs -- Political aspects -- United States
Rhetoric -- Political aspects -- United States
Politicians -- United States -- Language
United States -- Politics and government -- Miscellanea
United States -- Politics and government -- Quotations, maxims, etc.