Predigested wisdom. The flabby wine-skin of his brain Yields to some pathologic strain, And voids from its unstored abysm The driblet of an aphorism. "The Mad Philosopher," 1697
A comprehensive maxim or principle expressed in a few words; a sharply defined sentence relating to abstract truth rather than to practical matters.
a short, concise statement of a principle or a short, pointed sentence expressing a wise or clever observation or a general truth; a terse formulation of a truth or sentiment.
pithy statement or observation, not necessarily prescriptive.
A brief, straightforward saying that attempts to define a universal principal or generally accepted truth, i.e. "Do to others what you would have them do to you."
A sparsely worded saying. Ex. “As above, So below.
a short pithy instructive saying
a brief phrase of truth or opinion
a concise statement or popular saying that expresses a principle or truth in a terse, thoughtful manner
a formulation in which dense meaning is expressed in a few words
a pithy observation which contains a general truth and an apothegm is a concise saying or maxim
a short, pithy saying or adage, like "The future is a mirror without any glass in it
a short pithy sentence that contains a truth
a short saying, and just refers to the way he wrote
a short saying, usually one or two sentences, that in a striking way expresses a humorous and/or philosophical idea
a short sentence pithily expressing some valuable and general truth or sentiment
a short statement describing a truth or principle
a short statement expressing a piece of wisdom, often wittily put
a terse SAYING that embodies a general, more or less profound truth or principle
a wise saying that bears repetition
Short pithy statement embodying a general truth e.g. Tennyson's 'Nature, red in tooth and claw.'
1. A terse saying embodying a general truth, as "Art is long, and life is short."
A brief, sometimes clever saying that expresses a principle, truth or observation about life; such as "The early bird catches the worm:.
Aphorism (from the Greek αφοÏιζειν, to define), literally a distinction or a definition, is a term used to describe a principle expressed tersely in a few telling words or any general truth conveyed in a short and pithy sentence, in such a way that when once heard it is unlikely to pass from memory.http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=aphorism
