[Ads-l] Quote Origin: The Genius, Wit, and Spirit of a Nation Are Discovered in Its Proverbs

[ADSGarson O'Toole]

The quotation in the subject line has been attributed to English
philosopher and statesman Francis Bacon. Quotation expert Nigel Rees
discussed the statement in the April 2025 issue of "The
'Quote…Unquote' Newsletter". Rees had received a request to explore
its provenance from proverb expert Wolfgang Mieder. The newsletter
discussion included an 1853 citation which described the expression as
a "well-worn remark".

Here is a link to the Quote Investigator article:
https://quoteinvestigator.com/2025/04/08/wit-proverbs/

Francis Bacon died in 1626, and the earliest match I found appeared
many years later in 1710 within the book "Moral Essays on Some of the
Most Curious and Significant English, Scotch and Foreign Proverbs" by
Samuel Palmer who was a Presbyter of the Church of England.

[Begin excerpt]
It has been observ'd by Great Men, that the Genius, Wit, and Spirit of
a Nation, is discover'd by their Proverbs, which shew the Wisdom,
Invention and Disposition of the Country either to Virtue or Vice.
[End excerpt]

Thus, the first citation in 1710 specified an anonymous attribution.
Yet, Francis Bacon received credit in 1721 on the title page of the
following work: "A Complete Collection of Scotish Proverbs Explained
and Made Intelligible To the English Reader" by James Kelly. The word
“Scottish” in the title was spelled as “Scotish”:

[Begin excerpt]
The Genius, Wit, and Spirit of a Nation, are discovered by their PROVERBS.
Ld. BACON.
[End excerpt]

I do not know why James Kelly credited Bacon. Perhaps a list member
can find earlier evidence.

Garson

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