I’m sitting at my granddaughter’s desk in her fourth-grade classroom. By her age, the desks are nearly adult-sized, for which I am grateful. The students are at lunch and the room is quiet, which has allowed me to set up a brief presentation on “Resources for the Arts in Your City” as a component in their year-long study of the State of North Carolina. Notably, but not surprisingly, the preprinted sheets and dividers that constitute the form of their state-notebook project included nothing about the arts. That’s right: nothing! Fortunately, their teacher wants to see that rectified (cue Professor Carol).

This is going to be fun. How easy it will be to fill the air with praises for Winston-Salem’s spectacular Reynolda House (built 1917) with its extensive botanical gardens and world-renown collection of American Art; for the Winston-Salem Symphony, now enjoying their vibrant new director and SMU Alumna, Maestra Michelle Merrill (you go, girl!); for the Piedmont Wind Symphony whose terrific director Mark Norman brings compelling new repertoire to the public as only a wind band can do; for the precious jewel called “The Little Theater,” now in its 89th season; and, of course, for a local, also national, treasure, the phenomenal UNC School of the Arts.

I’ll conclude my whirlwind tour through these organizations by hauling out a pair of pointe shoes and demonstrating something I love to do: namely, dispel the notion that ballet is a “sissy” art. First, I swirl the shoes in the air to show off their satin prettiness and floaty ribbons; then I slam one of them onto an empty desk (and I do mean slam). After the sound explodes in the room, their eyes widen, and stay wide, while I pass the pointe shoes around for examination.

Meanwhile, I’m enjoying the orderly, colorful classroom, outfitted in classic style: bulletin boards sporting examples of laudable student work, maps and charts for math and grammar filling one wall, a handwriting chart running along the top of another. A poster new to me, although apparently trendy, called “Switch your Mindset” catches my attention. Herein negative statements on the left are countered by positive “resets” on the right: “I can’t do this” becomes I can’t do it yet”; ‘I give up” turns into “I can try a different strategy”’ “It’s okay to not know” (sorry about the split infinitive) flips to “It’s not okay to not try” (not such great wording either, is it?). Another placard issues this command: “Before you Speak, T H I N K” and then gives the following explanation.

T, is it true?

H, is it helpful?

I, is it inspiring

N, is it necessary?

K, is it kind?

Platitudes are platitudes precisely because they convey solid truths in a concise manner. They have their place. But their simplicity does not guarantee a transfer of those truths into practice. Far richer and more effective are proverbs, for they create a road map for valuable and positive actions.

If pressed, I might say that proverbs are my favorite genre of literature. They resemble musical motives that a composer creates, expands, and transforms to construct and unify a large-scale composition. In the case of proverbs, what is this composition? A child’s life, wherein a nuanced series of motives will be played out. Why, then, not infuse these motives with timeless words of wisdom from cultures around the world? True, some will need to be explained to children, but that is part of their artistry. A masterpiece of music reveals its power only through multiple hearings.

Let me share some proverbs that might bring a nod or otherwise enhance your day:

Beauty without virtue is a flower without a sword. —French Proverb

Shared joy is a double joy; shared sorrow is half the sorrow. —Swedish Proverb

After the game, the king and the pawn go into the same box. —Italian Proverb

Measure a thousand times and cut once. —Turkish Proverb

Affection is a bad advisor. —German Proverb

Before you score, you must have a goal. —Greek Proverb

The reputation of a thousand years may be determined by the conduct of one hour. —Japanese Proverb

Good advice is often annoying; bad advice never is.  —French Proverb

Everyone is kneaded out of the same dough, but not baked in the same oven. —Yiddish Proverb 

The most beautiful fig may contain a worm. —Zulu Proverb

The list could go on, but I hear the approach of fourth-graders’ feet. So quickly, let me close by encouraging you to dive into the wealth of proverbs, especially if it’s been a while. Proverbs are an artistic treasure.  Their distinct cultural flavors take us on a tour across the globe, always bringing us gently home. Whatever the effort it takes to engrave them onto our hearts, proverbs sing like fine melodies, able to engage, instruct, and reward at every stage of life.