Dictum
noun
A short statement that expresses a general truth or principle.
His dictum was that 'life is too short to be angry.'
Often appears as...
- 'famous dictum'
- 'authoritative dictum'
Usage tips
Formal
noun
A judge's expression of opinion on a point other than the precise issue involved in determining a case.
Justice Holmes's dictum has shaped the interpretation of the First Amendment for decades.
Often appears as...
- 'legal dictum'
- 'the court's dictum'
Usage tips
Formal
Technical
noun
A short statement that expresses a general truth or principle.
His dictum was that 'life is too short to be angry.'
Often appears as...
- 'famous dictum'
- 'authoritative dictum'
Usage tips
Formal
noun
A judge's expression of opinion on a point other than the precise issue involved in determining a case.
Justice Holmes's dictum has shaped the interpretation of the First Amendment for decades.
Often appears as...
- 'legal dictum'
- 'the court's dictum'
Usage tips
Formal
Technical
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Common Usage
Often used to impart wisdom or advice, typically by someone with experience or authority.
The professor's dictum, 'Know thyself,' resonated with his students.
Pro Tip 2/3Philosophical Tone
Has a timeless, wise quality, used in philosophical or thoughtful contexts, not casual conversations.
The sage's dictum, 'We are what we repeatedly do,' made us ponder our habits.
Pro Tip 3/3Not a Rule
A dictum is a suggestion or belief, not a strict rule that must be followed.
Her personal dictum, 'Be open to change,' guided her decisions.
Pro Tip 1/3Common Usage
Often used to impart wisdom or advice, typically by someone with experience or authority.
The professor's dictum, 'Know thyself,' resonated with his students.
Pro Tip 2/3Philosophical Tone
Has a timeless, wise quality, used in philosophical or thoughtful contexts, not casual conversations.
The sage's dictum, 'We are what we repeatedly do,' made us ponder our habits.
Pro Tip 3/3Not a Rule
A dictum is a suggestion or belief, not a strict rule that must be followed.
Her personal dictum, 'Be open to change,' guided her decisions.
Pro Tip 1/3Common Usage
Often used to impart wisdom or advice, typically by someone with experience or authority.
The professor's dictum, 'Know thyself,' resonated with his students.
Pro Tip 2/3Philosophical Tone
Has a timeless, wise quality, used in philosophical or thoughtful contexts, not casual conversations.
The sage's dictum, 'We are what we repeatedly do,' made us ponder our habits.
Pro Tip 3/3Not a Rule
A dictum is a suggestion or belief, not a strict rule that must be followed.
Her personal dictum, 'Be open to change,' guided her decisions.
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Video examples
Expanding our definition...
Gandhi and Gandhi's other great dictum was be the change you want to see in the world and my case for all of this is that we need a theory of change and what policy makers often seem to believe is that they can only affect change in schools by grabbing the reins and taking command of everything and controlling it
Video examples
E.O. Wilson: Advice to...
We have seen this demonstrated already in the talks preceding mine. There is the quickest way advances are likely to occur, as measured in discoveries per investigator per year. You may have heard the military dictum for the gathering of
Video examples
Advice to young...
popular we have seen this demonstrated already in the talks preceding mind there is the quickest way advances are likely to occur as measured in discoveries per investigator per year you may have heard the military dictum
Video examples
Expanding our definition...
Gandhi and Gandhi's other great dictum was be the change you want to see in the world and my case for all of this is that we need a theory of change and what policy makers often seem to believe is that they can only affect change in schools by grabbing the reins and taking command of everything and controlling it
Video examples
E.O. Wilson: Advice to...
We have seen this demonstrated already in the talks preceding mine. There is the quickest way advances are likely to occur, as measured in discoveries per investigator per year. You may have heard the military dictum for the gathering of
Video examples
Advice to young...
popular we have seen this demonstrated already in the talks preceding mind there is the quickest way advances are likely to occur as measured in discoveries per investigator per year you may have heard the military dictum
Example 1 of 3
Quote examples
Frances Wright
Scottish Writer
Surely it is time to examine into the meaning of words and the nature of things, and to arrive at simple facts, not received upon the dictum of learned authorities, but upon attentive personal observation of what is passing around us.
Quote examples
Stuart Rose
British Businessman
I have always been an advocate and was, in my last job at M&S, a supporter of the Al Gore dictum that a sustainable business can be a profitable business. We were the first sizeable company in the U.K. to prove that was the case.
Quote examples
Henry Hazlitt
American Philosopher
The ideas which now pass for brilliant innovations and advances are in fact mere revivals of ancient errors, and a further proof of the dictum that those who are ignorant of the past are condemned to repeat it.
Quote examples
John Stuart Mill
English Philosopher
The dictum that truth always triumphs over persecution is one of the pleasant falsehoods which men repeat after one another till they pass into commonplaces, but which all experience refutes.
Quote examples
Thomas Chatterton Williams
American Critic
I have spent my whole life earnestly believing the fundamental American dictum that a single 'drop of black blood' makes a person 'black' primarily because they can never be 'white.
Quote examples
Peter Hammill
English Musician
My dictum has always been: 'This show is happening just here, just tonight, with these people who are in this hall, and nobody knows what's going to happen until it's done.
Quote examples
Duff McKagan
American Musician
Words and titles can be used as dictums and guides for all of us. A certain word can suddenly snap us back to a good place. 'Rocker' works for me.
Quote examples
Jean-Marie Le Pen
French Politician
An ancient dictum says that when Zeus wanted to destroy someone, he would first drive him mad.
Quote examples
Biju Menon
Indian Actor
The dictum of the industry is such that I can't only do films that appeal to me.
Quote examples
Jill Sobule
American Musician
I'm not one who goes for the 'all press is good press' dictum.
Quote examples
Frances Wright
Scottish Writer
Surely it is time to examine into the meaning of words and the nature of things, and to arrive at simple facts, not received upon the dictum of learned authorities, but upon attentive personal observation of what is passing around us.
Quote examples
Stuart Rose
British Businessman
I have always been an advocate and was, in my last job at M&S, a supporter of the Al Gore dictum that a sustainable business can be a profitable business. We were the first sizeable company in the U.K. to prove that was the case.
Quote examples
Henry Hazlitt
American Philosopher
The ideas which now pass for brilliant innovations and advances are in fact mere revivals of ancient errors, and a further proof of the dictum that those who are ignorant of the past are condemned to repeat it.
Quote examples
John Stuart Mill
English Philosopher
The dictum that truth always triumphs over persecution is one of the pleasant falsehoods which men repeat after one another till they pass into commonplaces, but which all experience refutes.
Quote examples
Thomas Chatterton Williams
American Critic
I have spent my whole life earnestly believing the fundamental American dictum that a single 'drop of black blood' makes a person 'black' primarily because they can never be 'white.
Quote examples
Peter Hammill
English Musician
My dictum has always been: 'This show is happening just here, just tonight, with these people who are in this hall, and nobody knows what's going to happen until it's done.
Quote examples
Duff McKagan
American Musician
Words and titles can be used as dictums and guides for all of us. A certain word can suddenly snap us back to a good place. 'Rocker' works for me.
Quote examples
Jean-Marie Le Pen
French Politician
An ancient dictum says that when Zeus wanted to destroy someone, he would first drive him mad.
Quote examples
Biju Menon
Indian Actor
The dictum of the industry is such that I can't only do films that appeal to me.
Quote examples
Jill Sobule
American Musician
I'm not one who goes for the 'all press is good press' dictum.
Example 1 of 10
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