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"aphorism"
Definition: 1. A tersely phrased statement of a truth or opinion.
2. A brief statement of a principle.
Etymology:
From the Greek, "to delimit, define"
Examples and Observations:
- "Life is short, art is long, opportunity fugitive, experimenting dangerous, reasoning difficult: it is necessary not only to do oneself what is right, but also to be seconded by the patient, by those who attend him, by external circumstances."
(Hippocrates, Aphorisms)
- "If God did not exist, it would be necesary to invent him."
(Voltaire)
- "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."
(Commonly attributed to Voltaire, the words are in fact S.G. Tallentyre's summary of Voltaire's attitude toward Helvetius following the burning of the latter's writings in 1759.)
- "An aphorism ought to be entirely isolated from the surrounding world like a little work of art and complete in itself like a hedgehog."
(Friedrich Von Schlegel)
- "The worst government is the most moral. One composed of cynics is often very tolerant and humane. But when fanatics are on top there is no limit to oppression."
(H.L. Mencken)
- "An idealist is one who, on noticing that a rose smells better than a cabbage, concludes that it will also make better soup."
(H.L. Mencken)
- "I have no sharp taste for acquiring things, but it is not necessary to desire things in order to acquire them. Goods and chattels seek a man out; they find him even though his guard is up."
(E.B. White, "Good-bye to 48th Street")
- "Expect nothing. Live frugally on surprise."
(Alice Walker)
- "All men should strive to learn before they die, what they are running from, and to, and why."
(James Thurber)
- "Your children need your presence more than your presents."
(Jesse Jackson)
- "We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful what we pretend to be."
(Kurt Vonnegut, Mother Night)
 Pronunciation: AF-uh-riz-um Also Known As: saying, maxim, adage, cliché, saw, dictum, precept
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