Page "Proverb" Paragraph 40

In the article “ Tensions in Proverbs: More Light on International Understanding ,” Joseph Raymond comments on what common Russian proverbs from the 18th and 19th centuries portray: Potent antiauthoritarian proverbs reflected tensions between the Russian people and the Czar.

The rollickingly malicious undertone of these folk verbalizations constitutes what might be labeled a ‘ paremiological revolt .’ To avoid openly criticizing a given authority or cultural pattern, folk take recourse to proverbial expressions which voice personal tensions in a tone of generalized consent.

Thus, personal involvement is linked with public opinion Proverbs that speak to the political disgruntlement include: “ When the Czar spits into the soup dish, it fairly bursts with pride ”; “ If the Czar be a rhymester, woe be to the poets ”; and “ The hen of the Czarina herself does not lay swan ’ s eggs .” While none of these proverbs state directly, “ I hate the Czar and detest my situation ” ( which would have been incredibly dangerous ), they do get their points across.