Barbæ tenus sapientes

Philosophers even to the beard. Oh, he is a wise man, you may see it by his beard, may be applied ironically to persons of grave and serious manners, who wish to pass themselves off for men of more learning, or knowledge, than they really possess. As the beard is not completely formed until the age of manhood, it has always been considered as an emblem of wisdom. Il est tems d'etre sage, quand on a la barbe au menton, it is time to be wise now that you have a beard on your chin; and, Hombre de barba, with the Spaniards, means a man of knowledge, or intelligence. Diga barba que haga, let your beard advise you what is befitting you to do, and a poca barba, poca virguenza, little beard, little shame, or modesty. Quixadas sin barbas no merecen ser honradas, chins without beards deserve no honour. Faire la barbe, among the French, means to deceive, or impose on anyone, by superior address or cunning; also, to excel in wisdom and sagacity. Among the Persians, and perhaps generally in the east, the beard is held in great reverence, and to speak of it slightingly or disrespectfully, would be resented, and for a stranger to violate it, by touching it, would probably be avenged by instant death.