The old rabbis were poets of the short sentence. Here is a small anthology of proverbs preserved in the Midrash — each one a stone you can carry in your pocket.
On speech: Open not your mouth to speak evil. Teach your tongue to say, “I do not know.”
On patience: To be patient is sometimes better than to have much wealth. The horse fed too liberally with oats becomes unruly. Happy the pupil whose teacher approves his words.
On early signs: When the cucumbers are young, we can already tell whether they will become good for food. A myrtle, even in the desert, remains a myrtle.
On poverty and dignity: Poverty comes from God, but not dirt. Our kindly deeds and generous gifts go to heaven as messengers, and plead for us before our Heavenly Father. The noblest of all tzedakah is helping the poor to earn a livelihood.
On foolish ambition: The camel wanted horns, so they took away his ears.
On time and wealth: The egg of today is better than the hen of tomorrow.
On the human condition: The world is a wedding. Youth is a wreath of roses.
Each line folds a teaching inside a picture. The rabbis trusted that a good proverb travels further than a long sermon.