Professor Wolfgang Mieder is a paroemiologist. He studies proverbs. The University of Vermont professor has big news. He’s getting a library! The professor has been studying about proverbs for 50 years. All that time, he has written and collected books about proverbs. Now he has a library to put them in!
Proverbs are short, simple sayings. They are truthful words of wisdom. Can you think of a proverb? How about “Honesty is the best policy” or “A friend loves at all times.” There’s a good chance that you can recite quite a few proverbs. They have been around for thousands of years.
Mr. Mieder has about 9,000 volumes in his proverbs library. That includes collections of proverbs from Germany, China, Turkey, and Hungary. Thousands of his books talk about what proverbs are, where they come from, and why they’re important. Mr. Mieder wrote 246 books and 569 articles on proverbs. He also edits a yearbook on proverbs called “Proverbium.”
The world’s first paroemiologist is “one of the greatest proverb scholars of all times and the greatest of our generation,” said Dan Ben-Amos, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Mieder studies how people make a difference with their words.
He’s been working with proverbs so long that he’s out of space for his books! He added on rooms to his house just for books. When that space was full, he added on more rooms. His wife worried, “What will we do with all those proverbs books?”
Mr. Mieder asked the University of Vermont for help. At first, they didn’t have extra book space either. But then the school located a building that was missing something—books! A former library, the building has a large reading and study room. It has long tables, but nothing on its wood walls. The university asked the paroemiologist to fill the room with his collection of proverbs. One proverb says, “A room without books is like a body without a soul.” Mr. Mieder’s collection is a perfect fit for the space. He’s extremely thankful to have a home for his books.
Professor Mieder spends so much time with proverbs! He must be very wise! Maybe. But God’s word says there is a difference between listening and hearing. Jeremiah 5:21 talks about senseless people, “who have ears, but hear not.” You may be surrounded by wisdom from church, school, and family. Maybe there are several Bibles in your home. Pray for a soft heart so that you can truly hear the wisdom of God.
