Proverbs are the lamps to words.

The proverb likens proverbs to lamps: small, portable sources of light that make a larger space navigable. In the same way, concise traditional sayings illuminate ordinary speech by clarifying meaning, sharpening judgment, and offering ready-made guidance drawn from collective experience. “Words” here can be understood as everyday discourse or even life’s situations as they are narrated and interpreted through language; proverbs help listeners “see” what is meant, especially when direct explanation would be long or socially awkward. The image also implies that eloquence is not merely ornament: inherited wisdom can guide speech toward truth, prudence, and moral insight.