A pearl of modest wisdom

1. Anyone know the origin of the expression "pearls of wisdom"?

2. About 20 years ago, I heard a book reviewed (but cannot recall the name or the author) that not only gave phrase origins but also comparable phrases from another age. The example given was the phrase
"it's better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick" that in Victorian times was predated by "it's better than sleeping witn a dead policeman". Does
anyone know the book?
Adrian Reuben

As to pearls of wisdom - I believe that it is from the Biblical Book of Proverbs - that to waste wisdom on fools is like casting pearls before swine - in other words, that a fool's appreciation of wisdom is as great as a pig's appreciation of jewels.

Loads of common expressions have their roots in Proverbs - shows that it would have been a best-seller in its own right.