Proverbs are often some of the oldest things in the language. In Europe,
many of them go back to the Bible, which not only coined quite a lot of them
but also popularised them as it was distributed. Proverb itself comes from pro,
to put forth, and verbum, meaning the word. So, you were literally spreading
the word. The word is usually a moral or a reflection of culture or experience
of some kind. They tell you a lot as a snapshot in a word or in a phrase.
'When in Rome do as the Romans do.' Is one of the oldest proverbs. It was
an admonition to travellers to observe the local custom whenever you go there.
It is believed to have originated in a letter written by St Ambrose, a
fourth-century Bishop of Milan. Translated from Latin, his advice reads, 'When
you are at Rome, live in the Roman style. When you are elsewhere, live as they
live elsewhere.' These words were part of a letter written in Latin around
AD 387 to St Augustine. St Augustine was in Rome and was confused about the
correct day for fasting, because he knew the Roman church had decreed that
Saturday was the day set aside for fasting. But in Milan, where he resided,
there was no such requirement at all, so he didn't quite know which custom to
follow. It obviously varied from city to city. So Augustine consulted the wise
St Ambrose, who replied with that advice - 'When in Rome do as the Romans do.'
And, that's exactly what he did. We now have some words that are enshrined in
our memory pretty much for ever.
