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- DictionaryAph·o·rism/ˈafəˌrizəm/
noun
- 1. a pithy observation that contains a general truth, such as, “if it ain't broke, don't fix it.”: "the old aphorism “the child is father to the man”"
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An aphorism is a concise statement of a principle, a terse formulation of a truth or sentiment, or an ingeniously terse style of expression. Learn the origin, synonyms, examples, and word history of aphorism from Merriam-Webster.
An aphorism is a terse saying embodying a general truth or astute observation, such as "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely" (Lord Acton). Learn more about the origin, synonyms, and examples of aphorisms from Dictionary.com.
An aphorism is a short clever saying that is intended to express a general truth. Learn more about the meaning, pronunciation, and usage of aphorism with examples from the Cambridge English Corpus and other sources.
An aphorism is a short clever saying that is intended to express a general truth. Learn more about the meaning, usage and pronunciation of this word, and see examples and translations in different languages.
- Aphorism Definition
- Aphorism Examples
- Why Do Writers Choose to Write Aphorisms?
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What is an aphorism? Here’s a quick and simple definition: Some additional key details about aphorisms: 1. Aphorisms are memorable and convincing because of their pithiness. This pithiness can also be a weakness, though, since it usually means that bold assertions are being made without any elaboration or evidence to back them up. 2. Many commonly ...
Aphorism in Literature
Writers of literature often invent memorable aphorisms because they need to communicate a big idea in a striking way. Some aphorisms that originated in literature are now so common that their literary origin is practically unknown, while other aphorisms are still strongly associated with the authors that penned them.
Aphorism in Everyday Speech
This list represents just a small fraction of the aphorisms people commonly use in everyday speech. 1. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink. 2. All is fair in love and war. 3. A jack of all trades is master of none. 4. Measure twice, cut once. 5. An apple a day keeps the doctor away. 6. Better safe than sorry. 7. Better the devil you know than the devil you don't.
Aphorism in Politics
Here's a short list of some famous aphorisms that come from political speeches or writing. 1. You can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig. Variations on this phrase are frequently used by American politicians accusing their opponents of representing their policies in a disingenuous way. During the United States' 2008 presidential election, Barack Obama's use of the phrase stirred up controversy when some believed he was calling vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin a lipstick-wearin...
As the above examples from Anna Karenina and Pride and Prejudice show, aphorisms can make for excellent opening lines because they introduce big ideas in relatively few words—in other words, they pack a punch. Of course, aphorisms function just as well within the body of a work. Regardless of where they occur in a text, writers use aphorisms to cle...
If you're on the hunt for compelling and quotable aphorisms, check out this article from NPR, which excerpts sections of Geary's Guide to The World's Great Aphorists.An aphorism is a saying that concisely expresses a moral principle or an observation about the world, presenting it as a general or universal truth. Learn about the features, functions, and types of aphorisms, and see examples from literature, philosophy, and everyday speech.
An aphorism (from Greek ἀφορισμός: aphorismos, denoting 'delimitation', 'distinction', and 'definition') is a concise, terse, laconic, or memorable expression of a general truth or principle. Aphorisms are often handed down by tradition from generation to generation.
An aphorism is a statement or saying that is both efficiently presented and either witty or wise. While there are loads of trite and silly statements, a good aphorism is supposed to stand the test of time and remain true and elegant — a very difficult task!
