Because they summarize us, they refer to us, they explain or sentence us, they show us, they lecture us, they annoy us, they revolt us; because they allow us to play with their rhyme, their rhythm or their meaning; because they condemn us, they placate us, they give us hope; they contain us or expel us, help us or challenge us; because they pass through our life and our life passes through them; because we have heard, read and searched in our own history for the truth of this or that saying, today the proverbs, adages, maxims, apothegms, proverbs, aphorisms, compendium of popular tradition, anchor of common sense in the best and in the worse of the senses, they are the excuse; and to them, with sympathy or reflection, with joy or resignation, with serenity or rebellion, we dedicate this exhibition.   Laura Giusti