--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Many of the historical proverbs have a…" description: "\"Many of the historical proverbs have a doubtful paternity.\" — Ralph Waldo Emerson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a40/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_doubtful_many-of-the-historical-proverbs-have-a-d_1164675.png" --- # Many of the historical proverbs have a doubtful paternity. ![“Many of the historical proverbs have a doubtful paternity.” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a40/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_doubtful_many-of-the-historical-proverbs-have-a-d_1164675.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a40/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_doubtful_many-of-the-historical-proverbs-have-a-d_1164675.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a40/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_doubtful_many-of-the-historical-proverbs-have-a-d_1164675.png) > “Many of the historical proverbs have a doubtful paternity.” [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Historical sayings often lack clear origins, casting doubt on their authenticity. **In simple terms:** Questionable origins of many proverbs. Key Takeaway Verify sources before accepting wisdom. Themes history wisdom authenticity critical thinking Mood analytical skeptical Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - academic research - public speaking - writing Key Concepts folklore studies epistemology cultural transmission Questions to Reflect On - How do you assess the credibility of a saying? - What role does tradition play in truth? A Different Perspective Some proverbs may still hold value despite unknown origins. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doubtful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubtful/) [Doubtful Paternity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubtful-paternity-3349690/) [Historical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/historical/) [Historical Proverbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/historical-proverbs-3349691/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Paternity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paternity/) [Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proverb/) [Proverbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proverbs/) [Proverbs Doubtful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proverbs-doubtful-3349689/) ## Related quotes > [Of the Shaker society, it was formerly a sort of proverb in the country, that they always sent the devil to market.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/of-the-shaker-society-it-was-formerly-a-sort-of-proverb-in-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Proverbs, like the sacred books of each nation, are the sanctuary of the intuitions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/proverbs-like-the-sacred-books-of-each-nation-are-the-sanctuary-of-2/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Proverbs, like the sacred books of each nation, are the sanctuary of the intuitions. That which the droning world, chained to appearances, will not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/proverbs-like-the-sacred-books-of-each-nation-are-the-sanctuary-of/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Proverbs, words, and grammar inflections convey the public sense with more purity and precision, than the wisest individual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/proverbs-words-and-grammar-inflections-convey-the-public-sense-with/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Proverbs are the literature of reason, or the statements of absolute truth, without qualification. Like the sacred books of each nation, they are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/proverbs-are-the-literature-of-reason-or-the-statements-of-absolute/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“When he said the only way to get that woman out of our lives was a paternity test, it hit me." -Ty "What hit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-foor/when-he-said-the-only-way-to-get-that-woman-out-of-our-lives-was-a/) [Jennifer Foor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-foor/) > [If you been living in sin, going to the clubs, etc... and live an earthly life and not a holy life, the GOD who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-been-living-in-sin-going-to-the-clubs-etc-and-live-an-earthly/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Paternity, paternity. Let's think about this. This discriminates against the childless. So you get a year off because you produce a brat. If anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/paternity-paternity-let-s-think-about-this-this-discriminates-against/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [Paternity is based anyhow only upon conviction: I am convinced, therefore, I am the father.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/paternity-is-based-anyhow-only-upon-conviction-i-am-convinced/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [If Rosie’s mother had known that eye colour was not a reliable indicator of paternity, and organised a DNA test to confirm her suspicions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graeme-simsion/if-rosie-s-mother-had-known-that-eye-colour-was-not-a-reliable/) [Graeme Simsion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graeme-simsion/) > [If Men Got Pregnant: Paternity suits would be a line of clothes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/if-men-got-pregnant-paternity-suits-would-be-a-line-of-clothes/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [“A natural family.” Perhaps this easy acceptance between adults and unrelated children, the diffuse nurturing found in societies where children refer to all men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-ryan/a-natural-family-perhaps-this-easy-acceptance-between-adults-and/) [Christopher Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-ryan/) > [“Evolutionary psychologists have noted the particular eagerness with which new babies are scanned for resemblances to their paternal, as opposed to maternal relatives –…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/evolutionary-psychologists-have-noted-the-particular-eagerness-with/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Some men just aren't cut out for paternity. Better they should realize it before and not after they become responsible for a son.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/some-men-just-aren-t-cut-out-for-paternity-better-they-should-realize/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [And Christ was born into the world as the literal Son of this Holy Being; he was born in the same personal, real, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-r-mcconkie/and-christ-was-born-into-the-world-as-the-literal-son-of-this-holy/) [Bruce R. McConkie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-r-mcconkie/) ## More by Ralph Waldo Emerson > [The history of mankind interests us only as it exhibits a steady gain of truth and right, in the incessant conflict which it records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-history-of-mankind-interests-us-only-as-it-exhibits-a-steady-gain/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If we will not interfere with our thought, but will act entirely, or see how the thing stands in God, we know the particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-we-will-not-interfere-with-our-thought-but-will-act-entirely-or/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A man cannot speak but he judges himself. With his will or against his will he draws his portrait to the eye of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-cannot-speak-but-he-judges-himself-with-his-will-or-against-his/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Consideration is the soil in which wisdom may be expected to grow, and strength be given to every up-springing plant of duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/consideration-is-the-soil-in-which-wisdom-may-be-expected-to-grow-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“There is then creative reading as well as creative writing. When the mind is braced by labor and invention, the page of whatever book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/there-is-then-creative-reading-as-well-as-creative-writing-when-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The order of things consents to virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-order-of-things-consents-to-virtue/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Life only avails, not the having lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/life-only-avails-not-the-having-lived/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Another success is the post-office, with its educating energy augmented by cheapness and guarded by a certain religious sentimentin mankind; so that the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/another-success-is-the-post-office-with-its-educating-energy/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A child reminds us that playtime is an essential part of our daily routine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-child-reminds-us-that-playtime-is-an-essential-part-of-our-daily/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [No man can be criticised but by a greater than he. Do not, then, read the reviews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/no-man-can-be-criticised-but-by-a-greater-than-he-do-not-then-read/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Coal lay in ledges under the ground since the Flood, until a laborer with pick and windlass brings it to the surface. We may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/coal-lay-in-ledges-under-the-ground-since-the-flood-until-a-laborer/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I am; therefore, I had nothing better to do than to think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/i-am-therefore-i-had-nothing-better-to-do-than-to-think/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [In a library we are surrounded by many hundreds of dear friends, but they are imprisoned by an enchanter in these paper and leathern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/in-a-library-we-are-surrounded-by-many-hundreds-of-dear-friends-but/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The compensations of calamity are made apparent to the understanding also, after long intervals of time. A fever, a mutilation, a cruel disappointment, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-compensations-of-calamity-are-made-apparent-to-the-understanding/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) [Explore all 4,802 Ralph Waldo Emerson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## More Doubtful quotes > [Beauty's a doubtful good, a glass, a flower, Lost, faded, broken, dead within an hour; And beauty, blemish'd once, for ever's lost, In spite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/beauty-s-a-doubtful-good-a-glass-a-flower-lost-faded-broken-dead/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“An atheist is someone who is disappointed in his search of god. He is a man who strongly needed god but couldn't find him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/an-atheist-is-someone-who-is-disappointed-in-his-search-of-god-he-is/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [It is doubtful whether mankind are most indebted to those who like Bacon and Butler dig the gold from the mine of literature, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/it-is-doubtful-whether-mankind-are-most-indebted-to-those-who-like/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [What we suffer from today is humility in the wrong place...The old humility was a spur that prevented a man from stopping; not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/what-we-suffer-from-today-is-humility-in-the-wrong-place-the-old/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [We ought not to be over-anxious to encourage innovation in cases of doubtful improvement, for an old system must ever have two advantages over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/we-ought-not-to-be-over-anxious-to-encourage-innovation-in-cases-of/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [A man who carries a cat by the tail is getting experience that will always be helpful. He isn't likely to grow dim or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/a-man-who-carries-a-cat-by-the-tail-is-getting-experience-that-will/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [It is beginning to be doubtful whether Parliament and Congress sit in Westminster and Washington, or in the editorial rooms of the leading journals,--so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/it-is-beginning-to-be-doubtful-whether-parliament-and-congress-sit-in/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [The world is deceitful; her end is doubtful, her conclusion is horrible, her judge terrible, and her judgment is intolerable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-world-is-deceitful-her-end-is-doubtful-her-conclusion-is-horrible/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Look at Mann's reading habits, his explicit comments on Nietzsche, and his copy of Birth of Tragedy, and it starts to seem doubtful that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-kitcher/look-at-mann-s-reading-habits-his-explicit-comments-on-nietzsche-and/) [Philip Kitcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-kitcher/) > [At times it has been doubtful to me if Emerson really knows or feels what Poetry is at its highest, as in the Bible,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/at-times-it-has-been-doubtful-to-me-if-emerson-really-knows-or-feels/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [The wise are doubtful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/the-wise-are-doubtful/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [It is doubtful if even experience of riches and success is as intense among those who have experienced nothing else as among those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wilson-lynd/it-is-doubtful-if-even-experience-of-riches-and-success-is-as-intense/) [Robert Wilson Lynd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wilson-lynd/) > [The first men who set out for Mars had better make sure they leave everything at home in apple-pie order. They won't get back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wernher-von-braun/the-first-men-who-set-out-for-mars-had-better-make-sure-they-leave/) [Wernher von Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wernher-von-braun/) > [It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until he has hurt him deeply." God actually rises up storms of conflict in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-doubtful-whether-god-can-bless-a-man-greatly-until-he-has-hurt/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Joshua to Angela: "Please, Angela, do it for me… and you never know you just might have fun." She looked at him warily. "I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-roberts/joshua-to-angela-please-angela-do-it-for-me-and-you-never-know-you/) [Patti Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-roberts/) [Browse all 299 Doubtful quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubtful/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Many of the historical proverbs have a doubtful paternity.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ralph Waldo Emerson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/many-of-the-historical-proverbs-have-a-doubtful-paternity/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Doubtful" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/many-of-the-historical-proverbs-have-a-doubtful-paternity/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a40/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_doubtful_many-of-the-historical-proverbs-have-a-d_1164675.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a40/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_doubtful_many-of-the-historical-proverbs-have-a-d_1164675.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a40/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_doubtful_many-of-the-historical-proverbs-have-a-d_1164675.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Many of the historical proverbs have a doubtful paternity.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ralph Waldo Emerson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Many of the historical proverbs have...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/many-of-the-historical-proverbs-have-a-doubtful-paternity/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/many-of-the-historical-proverbs-have-a-doubtful-paternity/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```