[Ads-l] "old" proverb?

[Charles C Doyle]

We could say it's a proverb, probably an Anglo-American proverb of the present century or so;  not "old."  The "African" aspect is problematical as well.  In the first place, "African" covers a multitude of languages, countries, and cultures.  In the second place, there's a tendency to "attribute" proverbs, new or old, often to persons or places renowned for their trenchant wisdom--perhaps in an effort to enhance the perceived insightfulness or authority of the saying.  We may compare the famous "It takes a village to raise a child":  It too is often called an African proverb, but no African source or identity has been discovered.

--Charlie

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From: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU> on behalf of Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at GMAIL.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, February 24, 2016 7:55 AM
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Subject: "old" proverb?
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Se. Cory Booker cites "the old African proverb,

'If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.'"

Could be legit, but is it?

JL
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