What is a proverb?

A paragraph or short essay in which a writer expresses his or her opinion on a topic using a main idea and key points
A phrase or short sentence that expresses a rule everyone should follow or a rule that we should all try to live by
A sentence or short paragraph that shares a story through which the reader can learn a valuable lesson about life
A short saying, usually of unknown and ancient origin, that expresses effectively some commonplace truth or useful thought