Proverbs are short popular sayings that state a truth or useful thought such as our common "don't judge a book by its cover." This type of saying has been around for thousands of years. With the development of a system of writing, the sayings were eventually written down. The proverbs below are from ancient Sumer.
Whoever has walked with truth generates life.
Wealth is hard to come by, but poverty is always at hand.
He who acquires [gains] many things, he must keep close watch over them.
A boat bent on honest pursuits sailed downstream with the wind; Utu [a Sumerian god] has sought out honest ports for it.
He who eats too much will not be able to sleep.
Since my wife is at the outdoor shrine, and furthermore since my mother is at the river, I shall die of hunger, he says.
The fox could not build his own house, and so he came to the house of his friend as a conqueror.
The poor man nibbles at his silver.
The poor are the silent ones of the land.
All the households of the poor are not equally submissive [willing to obey].
A poor man does not strike his son a single blow; he treasures him forever.