Proverbs

[Koontz John E]

On Thu, 20 Dec 2001, Justin McBride wrote:
>     I'm not sure if they fit the different proverb models that have been
> sparked by this thread, but Cherokee has a number of proverb-like sayings.
> They are much more like the folkway aphorisms Ardis mentioned, however, such
> as "Don't leave dinner sitting out all night, it will attract _____(bad
> things)" or "If a butterfly lands on something of yours, you'll get a new
> one soon," and even taboos on gardening without shirts.  I've heard these
> things, or things like them, from any number of folks.  But the fact that
> they are rarely of a standard form ...

Is there a term for things like this that have a standard content, but not
a standard form?  I suppose 'folk belief', but I'm not sure that's
entirely appropriate.  It's more like a unit of advice than a credo.  A
Polonianism?  (Now there's a literary allusion!)