---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The \"sayings\" of a community, its…"
description: "\"The \"sayings\" of a community, its proverbs, are its characteristic comment upon life; they imply its history, suggest its attitude toward the world and..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33a/willa-cather-634_able_the-sayings-of-a-community-its-proverbs_862826.jpg"
---

#  The "sayings" of a community, its proverbs, are its…

![“The &quot;sayings&quot; of a community, its proverbs, are its characteristic comment upon life; they imply its history, suggest its attitude toward the world and its way of accepting life. Such an idiom makes the finest language any writer can have; and he can never get it with a notebook. He himself must…” quote by Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33a/willa-cather-634_able_the-sayings-of-a-community-its-proverbs_862826.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33a/willa-cather-634_able_the-sayings-of-a-community-its-proverbs_862826.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33a/willa-cather-634_able_the-sayings-of-a-community-its-proverbs_862826.jpg)

> “The "sayings" of a community, its proverbs, are its characteristic comment upon life; they imply its history, suggest its attitude toward the world and its way of accepting life. Such an idiom makes the finest language any writer can have; and he can never get it with a notebook. He himself must be able to think and feel in that speech - it is a gift from heart to heart.”

[Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Proverbs reflect a community’s history, worldview, and collective acceptance of life, shaping authentic language that cannot be learned from books alone.

**In simple terms:** Proverbs show a culture’s history and attitude, giving writers authentic voice.

Key Takeaway

Seek authentic cultural expressions.

Themes

culture language authenticity

Mood

reflective inspired

Type

literary anthropological

When to use this quote

- writing
- anthropology
- education
- translation

Key Concepts

collective memory oral tradition

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you incorporate community wisdom into your work?
- What limits arise when relying solely on oral tradition?

A Different Perspective

A writer may still need formal study to master style.

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