Critics of using proverbs this way point out that:

He is skilled in fighting and often uses old proverbs to teach Ang and his friends.

The Japanese commonly use proverbs, often citing just the first part of common phrases for brevity.

They use proverbs in their daily conversations far more often than Westerners do, and with far greater effect.

He know to use proverbs in almost every episode.

Another common way in which Soyinka uses proverbs is with Elesin.

Also, using proverbs well is a skill that is developed over years.

Many authors have used proverbs in their writings.

There is a growing interest in deliberately using proverbs to achieve goals, usually to support and promote changes in society.

Though much proverb scholarship is done by literary scholars, those studying the human mind have used proverbs in a variety of studies.