Proverbs are supposed to contain the wisdom of ages - but do they? The same thing can apply to commonplaces, cliches, popular sayings... but I would suggest that there are subtle differences between the terms. To start with, "proverbs" are often almost poetical, using metaphor or symbolism which retain a certain resonance - whereas, in contrast, "clichés" are worn-out phrasings, both in terms of language and of imagery....