Aphorism
noun
A short saying that expresses a general truth or principle.
One of the popular aphorisms is 'actions speak louder than words.'
Often appears as...
- 'an old aphorism'
- 'live by an aphorism'
noun
A concise statement of a scientific principle, usually by a classical author.
The aphorism 'nature abhors a vacuum' is often attributed to Aristotle.
Often appears as...
- 'aristotle's aphorism'
- 'scientific aphorism'
Usage tips
Academic
noun
A short saying that expresses a general truth or principle.
One of the popular aphorisms is 'actions speak louder than words.'
Often appears as...
- 'an old aphorism'
- 'live by an aphorism'
noun
A concise statement of a scientific principle, usually by a classical author.
The aphorism 'nature abhors a vacuum' is often attributed to Aristotle.
Often appears as...
- 'aristotle's aphorism'
- 'scientific aphorism'
Usage tips
Academic
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Brevity Key
Aphorisms are brief and impactful, designed to convey deep truths succinctly.
The aphorism 'Time is money' highlights the value of efficiency.
Pro Tip 2/3Cultural Wisdom
Aphorisms often reflect cultural values and wisdom passed down through generations.
In many cultures, the aphorism 'The early bird catches the worm' is well-known.
Pro Tip 3/3Widely Quoted
Aphorisms are commonly quoted in writing and speech to make a point quickly and effectively.
When advising patience, someone might say, 'Rome wasn't built in a day.'
Pro Tip 1/3Brevity Key
Aphorisms are brief and impactful, designed to convey deep truths succinctly.
The aphorism 'Time is money' highlights the value of efficiency.
Pro Tip 2/3Cultural Wisdom
Aphorisms often reflect cultural values and wisdom passed down through generations.
In many cultures, the aphorism 'The early bird catches the worm' is well-known.
Pro Tip 3/3Widely Quoted
Aphorisms are commonly quoted in writing and speech to make a point quickly and effectively.
When advising patience, someone might say, 'Rome wasn't built in a day.'
Pro Tip 1/3Brevity Key
Aphorisms are brief and impactful, designed to convey deep truths succinctly.
The aphorism 'Time is money' highlights the value of efficiency.
Pro Tip 2/3Cultural Wisdom
Aphorisms often reflect cultural values and wisdom passed down through generations.
In many cultures, the aphorism 'The early bird catches the worm' is well-known.
Pro Tip 3/3Widely Quoted
Aphorisms are commonly quoted in writing and speech to make a point quickly and effectively.
When advising patience, someone might say, 'Rome wasn't built in a day.'
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Video examples
Holly Morris: Why stay...
How could this be? Here's a Could it be that those ties to ancestral soil, the soft variables reflected in their aphorisms, actually affect longevity? The power of motherland so fundamental to that part of the world seems palliative.
Video examples
Eyes Wide Shut PIPE...
we all know the saying beauty is in the eye of the beholder but scientists tell us that this age-old aphorism is true you literally can measure Beauty by
Video examples
Toward a science of...
reliable all right let me then finish off with four general statements and example and two aphorisms the characteristics which I think are useful
Video examples
Holly Morris: Why stay...
How could this be? Here's a Could it be that those ties to ancestral soil, the soft variables reflected in their aphorisms, actually affect longevity? The power of motherland so fundamental to that part of the world seems palliative.
Video examples
Eyes Wide Shut PIPE...
we all know the saying beauty is in the eye of the beholder but scientists tell us that this age-old aphorism is true you literally can measure Beauty by
Video examples
Toward a science of...
reliable all right let me then finish off with four general statements and example and two aphorisms the characteristics which I think are useful
Example 1 of 3
Quote examples
Zadie Smith
British Novelist
I lost many literary battles the day I read 'Their Eyes Were Watching God.' I had to concede that occasionally aphorisms have their power. I had to give up the idea that Keats had a monopoly on the lyrical.
Quote examples
Friedrich Nietzsche
German Philosopher
The aphorism in which I am the first master among Germans, are the forms of 'eternity'; my ambition is to say in ten sentences what everyone else says in a book - what everyone else does not say in a book.
Quote examples
Sam Waterston
American Actor
I got a note from my father, who said that Success is wonderful, if you don't inhale. That was his own aphorism, and I think it's the very best thing he could have said to me or anyone else on the subject.
Quote examples
Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton
English Politician
How many of us have been attracted to reason; first learned to think, to draw conclusions, to extract a moral from the follies of life, by some dazzling aphorism.
Quote examples
Gretchen Rubin
American Author
I collect axioms, paradoxes, maxims, teaching stories, proverbs, and aphorisms of all sorts, because I love to see complex ideas distilled into a few words.
Quote examples
Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel
German Poet
An aphorism ought to be entirely isolated from the surrounding world like a little work of art and complete in itself like a hedgehog.
Quote examples
Mason Cooley
American Writer
The laughter of the aphorism is sometimes triumphant, but seldom carefree.
Quote examples
Paul Eldridge
American Educator
We endeavor to stuff the universe into the gullet of an aphorism.
Quote examples
Anatole Broyard
American Critic
Aphorisms are bad for novels. They stick in the reader's teeth.
Quote examples
Umberto Eco
Italian Novelist
There is nothing more difficult to define than an aphorism.
Quote examples
Zadie Smith
British Novelist
I lost many literary battles the day I read 'Their Eyes Were Watching God.' I had to concede that occasionally aphorisms have their power. I had to give up the idea that Keats had a monopoly on the lyrical.
Quote examples
Friedrich Nietzsche
German Philosopher
The aphorism in which I am the first master among Germans, are the forms of 'eternity'; my ambition is to say in ten sentences what everyone else says in a book - what everyone else does not say in a book.
Quote examples
Sam Waterston
American Actor
I got a note from my father, who said that Success is wonderful, if you don't inhale. That was his own aphorism, and I think it's the very best thing he could have said to me or anyone else on the subject.
Quote examples
Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton
English Politician
How many of us have been attracted to reason; first learned to think, to draw conclusions, to extract a moral from the follies of life, by some dazzling aphorism.
Quote examples
Gretchen Rubin
American Author
I collect axioms, paradoxes, maxims, teaching stories, proverbs, and aphorisms of all sorts, because I love to see complex ideas distilled into a few words.
Quote examples
Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel
German Poet
An aphorism ought to be entirely isolated from the surrounding world like a little work of art and complete in itself like a hedgehog.
Quote examples
Mason Cooley
American Writer
The laughter of the aphorism is sometimes triumphant, but seldom carefree.
Quote examples
Paul Eldridge
American Educator
We endeavor to stuff the universe into the gullet of an aphorism.
Quote examples
Anatole Broyard
American Critic
Aphorisms are bad for novels. They stick in the reader's teeth.
Quote examples
Umberto Eco
Italian Novelist
There is nothing more difficult to define than an aphorism.
Example 1 of 10
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