Proverb expressing a general truth (5)
I believe the answer is:
adage
'proverb expressing a general truth' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for adage that I've seen before include "Old saying, maxim" , "Proverb, maxim" , "Axiom" , "Well-remembered proverb or saying" , "Old saying; proverb" .)