How do I assign numbers to sentences?

I am trying to do this

proverbs = "a bad excuse is better than none","A bad workman blames his tools," etc.

number_of_proverb = random.randint (1,38)

proverb = sentence number number_of_proverb

But I have no idea how to assign numbers to sentences. Thank you, beforehand, for all of your help.

PS 38 because there are 38 sentences. Also is this

proverbs = "something something","something something","something, something"

correct? Sorry for these basic questions but I just started.