Proverbs and maxims as an instrument o f an argumentation in parliament speeches during the reign of Zygmunt August

Abstract

One of the argumentation tools used in Polish parliament speeches from 1556 to 1564 were maxims and proverbs. They were used willingly by more than half of the speakers which included senators (secular and ecclesiastical) as well as by gentry representatives. It was also proper for the monarch. Thе subjects of the proverbs concerned politics, praxis and sociology. Frequent use of proverbs during parliamentary debates demonstrates the high rank of this form of expression in sixteenth century Poland.