I'm not quite sure what makes a proverb pointless and not meaningless other than a sort of clunking obviousness (Plenty more fish at the fishmonger, for instance). Most common proverbs (forget the baroque Eastern incomprehensibles for now) are statements of the obvious in any case, gaining what clout they have by being finger waggingly trotted out after the fact: no-one ever says 'Look before you leap!' until you've leapt. Perhaps I have stymied myself by over analysing the competition?
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