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{{short description|Figure of speech}}
{{distinguish|aphorismus}}
{{Distinguish|Aphorismus}}
{{redirect|Aphorisms|the Red Sparowes album|Aphorisms (album)}}
{{Redirect|Aphorisms|the album|Aphorisms (album){{!}}''Aphorisms'' (album)}}
The word '''''aphorism''''' (literally "distinction" or "definition", from the {{lang-el|ἀφορισμός}}, ''aphorismós'' ''ap–horizein'' "from-to bound") denotes an original thought, spoken or written in a ] and memorable form.<ref> from the ]</ref> The genre is also known as "]".
An '''aphorism''' (from ] ἀφορισμός: ''aphorismos'', denoting 'delimitation', 'distinction', and 'definition') is a concise, terse, ], or memorable expression of a general ] or ].<ref> from the ]</ref> Aphorisms are often handed down by ] from generation to generation.


The concept is generally distinct from those of an ], ], ], ], maxim (] or ]), ], ], and ]; although some of these concepts could be construed as types of aphorism.
The name was first used in the ''Aphorisms'' of ] later to other sententious statements of physical science and later still to statements of all kinds of philosophical, moral or literary principles.


Often aphorisms are distinguished from other short sayings by the need for interpretation to make sense of them. In ''A Theory of the Aphorism'', Andrew Hui defined an aphorism as "a short saying that requires interpretation".<ref name="hui">{{Cite book |last=Hui |first=Andrew |date=2019 |title=A Theory of the Aphorism: from Confucius to Twitter |location=Princeton, NJ |publisher=Princeton University Press |doi=10.23943/princeton/9780691188959.001.0001 |isbn=9780691188959 }}</ref>
The ''Aphorisms'' of Hippocrates were one of the earliest collections, although the earlier ] is similar. Hippocrates includes such notable and often invoked phrases as:''"Life is short, art long, opportunity fleeting, experience misleading, judgment difficult."''


A famous example is:<ref>{{cite web |title=Heraclitus’ Poetic Ideas |url=https://philosophy.unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/122/2013/10/Heraclitus-Poetic-Ideas.pdf |website=University of North Carolina |access-date=26 October 2024}}</ref>
==Aphorism and literature==
Aphoristic collections, sometimes known as ], have a prominent place in the canons of several ancient societies, such as the ] literature of ], the ] ], ]ic ], ]'s ''Works and Days'', or ]' Handbook. Aphoristic collections also make up an important part of the work of some modern authors, such as ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ]. A 1559 oil–on–oak-panel painting, ] (also called The Blue Cloak or The Topsy Turvy World) by ], artfully depicts a land populated with literal renditions of Flemish aphorisms (]s) of the day.


{{quote|You cannot step into the same river twice.|]}}
The aphoristic genre developed together with literacy, and after the invention of printing, aphorisms were collected and published in book form. The first noted published collection of aphorisms is ''Adagia'' by ]. Other important early aphorists were ] and ].


==History==
Two influential collections of aphorisms published in the 20th century were ''The Uncombed Thoughts'' by ] (in Polish), and ''Itch of Wisdom'' by ] (in Russian)<ref>http://www.peoples.ru/art/painter/turovskiy/</ref>.
The word was first used in the '']'' of ], a long series of ]s concerning the symptoms and diagnosis of ] and the art of healing and ].<ref name="EB1911">{{EB1911|inline=y|wstitle=Aphorism|volume=2|page=165}}</ref> The often-cited first sentence of this work is: "{{lang|grc|Ὁ βίος βραχύς, δὲ τέχνη μακρή}}" – "life is short, art is long", usually reversed in order ('']'').


This aphorism was later applied or adapted to ] and then morphed into multifarious aphorisms of ], ], and ]. Currently, an aphorism is generally understood to be a concise and ] statement of ].
==Poetics of the aphorism==
The aphorism is considered a compressed poetic ] in itself. Aphorisms typically make extensive use of such devices as ], ] and ].


Aphorisms are distinct from ]s: aphorisms generally originate from experience and ], whereas axioms are self-evident truths and therefore require no additional proof. Aphorisms have been especially used in subjects to which no methodical or scientific treatment was originally applied, such as ], ], ], and ].<ref name="EB1911"/>
==Examples==


==Literature==
Usually an aphorism is a concise statement containing a subjective ] or observation cleverly and pithily written. Aphorisms can be both prosaic or poetic, sometimes they have repeated words or phrases, and sometimes they have two parts that are of the same grammatical structure. Some examples include:
Aphoristic collections, sometimes known as ], have a prominent place in the canons of several ancient societies, such as the ] literature of ], the ] ], ]ic ]s, ], ]'s '']'', the ], and ]. Aphoristic collections also make up an important part of the work of some modern authors. A 1559 oil–on–oak-panel painting, '']'' (also called ''The Blue Cloak'' or ''The Topsy Turvy World'') by ], artfully depicts a land populated with literal renditions of Flemish aphorisms (]s) of the day.


The first noted published collection of aphorisms is '']'' by ]. Other important early aphorists were ], ], and ].
*''Good Art seems ancient to its contemporaries, and modern – to their descendants.'' &mdash; ]
*''Lost time is never found again.'' &mdash; ]
*''Mediocrity is forgiven more easily than talent.'' &mdash; ]
*''Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.'' &mdash; ]
*''They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.''&mdash; ]
*''That which does not destroy us makes us stronger.'' &mdash; ]
*''Wrong life cannot be lived rightly.'' &mdash; ]
*''If you see the teeth of the lion, do not think that the lion is smiling at you.'' &mdash; ]
*''The first ape who became a man thus committed treason against his own kind.'' &mdash; ]
*''Many of those who tried to enlighten were hanged from the lampposts.'' &mdash; ]
*''A mystic hangs a fig leaf on a eunuch.'' &mdash; ]
*''You can play a shoestring if you're sincere.'' &mdash; ]
*''When you are expected to exceed expectations, expect the unexpected.'' &mdash; ]
*''The psychology of committees is a special case of the psychology of mobs.'' &mdash; ]
*''It is not uncommon to commiserate with a stranger's misfortune, but it takes a really fine nature to appreciate a friend's success.'' &mdash; ]
*''] is the tribute that ] pays to ].'' &mdash; Unknown, possibly ] proverb, or authored by ]
*''Only that which always existed can be eternal.'' &mdash; ]
*''Empathy is lost whenever it is most needed.'' &mdash; ]
*''Believe nothing you hear, and only half of what you see.'' &mdash; ]
*''It is better to be hated for what one is, than loved for what one is not.'' &mdash; ]
*''Truths are not relative. What are relative are opinions about truth.'' &mdash; ]
*''Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.'' &mdash; ], ''"The Life of Reason,"'' Volume 1: ''"Reason in Common Sense,"'' 1905.


Two influential collections of aphorisms published in the twentieth century were ''Unkempt Thoughts'' by ] (in Polish) and ''Itch of Wisdom'' by ] (in Russian and English).<ref>{{cite web|author=Заголовок |url=http://www.peoples.ru/art/painter/turovskiy/ |script-title=ru:ЗАЛОЖНИК ВЕЧНОСТИ Михаил Туровский/ЗАЛОЖНИК ВЕЧНОСТИ Михаил Туровский |publisher=Peoples.ru |date=2003-06-30 |access-date=2013-10-15|language=ru}}</ref>
==Aphorism and society==
In a number of cultures, such as ]'s England, many ] and ]n societies,<!-- Citation on Talk page; don't know how to do proper ref=2008-07-13 --> and throughout the world, the ability to spontaneously produce aphoristic sayings at exactly the right moment is a key determinant of social status.<!-- deleted 'dubious' template=2008-07-13 -->


==Society==
Many societies have traditional sages or ]es to whom aphorisms are commonly attributed, such as the ], ] or ].
Many societies have traditional sages or ]es to whom aphorisms are commonly attributed, such as the ], ], ], or ].


Misquoted or misadvised aphorisms are frequently used as a source of humour; for instance, wordplays of aphorisms appear in the works of ], ] and ] (e.g. ] saying "Right now I need aphorisms like I need holes in my heads"). Aphorisms being misquoted by sports players, coaches, and commentators form the basis of ] ] section. Misquoted or misadvised aphorisms are frequently used as a source of ]; for instance, ] of aphorisms appear in the works of ], ], and ]. Aphorisms being misquoted by sports players, coaches, and commentators form the basis of ]'s ] section.


==Aphorists== == Philosophy ==
Professor of Humanities Andrew Hui, author of ''A Theory of the Aphorism'' offered the following definition of an aphorism: "a short saying that requires interpretation".<ref name="hui"/> Hui showed that some of the earliest philosophical texts from traditions around the world used an aphoristic style. Some of the earliest texts in the western philosophical canon feature short statements requiring interpretation, as seen in the ] like ] and ]. In early Hindu literature, the ] were composed of many aphorisms. Likewise, in early Chinese philosophy, ] texts like the ] and the ] ] relied on an aphoristic style. ], ], ], and ] rank among some of the most notable philosophers who employed them in the ] time.
An aphorist is someone who produces or collects aphorisms. Famous aphorists include:

{{col-begin}}
Andrew Hui argued that aphorisms played an important role in the history of philosophy, influencing the favored mediums of philosophical traditions. He argued for example, that the Platonic ] served as a response to the difficult to interpret fragments and phrases which Pre-Socratic philosophers were famous for. Hui proposes that aphorisms often arrive before, after, or in response to more systematic argumentative philosophy.<ref name="hui"/> For example, aphorisms may come before a systematic philosophy, because the systematic philosophy consists of the attempt to interpret and explain the aphorisms, as he argues is the case with Confucianism. Alternately, aphorisms may be written against systematic philosophy, as a form of challenge or irreverence, as seen in Nietzsche's work. Lastly, aphorisms may come after or following systematic philosophy, as was the case with Francis Bacon, who sought to bring an end to old ways of thinking.<ref name="hui"/>
{{col-break}}

* ]
== <span id="Admitted aphorism authors"></span> Aphorists ==
* ]
{{Main|:Category:Aphorists}}
* ]
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* ] (''Jing Si Aphorism'')
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* ] ('']'')
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* ] (the second, third and fourth parts of his famous work '']''){{cn|date=January 2018}}
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==See also== ==See also==
{{Wikiquote|Aphorisms}}
*]
{{Wikisource|Aphorisms}}
*]
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*]
* '']'' by ]
*]
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* {{lang|es|]}}
*]
*] * ]
* ]
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* ]
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** '']''
** '']''
** '']''
** '']''
* ]
* ]
* The ], and the ]
{{colend}}


==References== ==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book|last=Geary|first=James|author-link=James Geary|title=The World in a Phrase: A Brief History of the Aphorism|date=2005|publisher=Bloomsbury|location=New York|isbn=9781608197620}}
* ], "Brevity, Soul, Wit: The art of the aphorism" (includes discussion of Andrew Hui, ''A Theory of the Aphorism: From ] to ]'', Princeton, 2019), '']'', 22 July 2019, pp. 67–69. "The aphorism is always an ], and seeks an essence. The ability to elide the extraneous is what makes the aphorism bite, but the possibility of inferring backward to a missing text is what makes the aphorism ]." (p.69.)
* {{cite Q|Q19045853}}<!-- Aphorisms — an address delivered before the Edinburgh Philosophical Institution, November 11, 1887 -->

==External links==
{{Wiktionary}} {{Wiktionary}}
* {{in lang|en|ar}}
{{Wikiquotepar|Aphorisms}}
{{reflist}}
*
*''The World in a Phrase: A Brief History of the Aphorism'' by ]
* {{1911}}
* ''Itch of Wisdom'' by ], Hemlock Press 1990 (English edition)
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Latest revision as of 11:32, 5 January 2025

Figure of speech Not to be confused with Aphorismus. "Aphorisms" redirects here. For the album, see Aphorisms (album).

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.

The concept is generally distinct from those of an adage, brocard, chiasmus, epigram, maxim (legal or philosophical), principle, proverb, and saying; although some of these concepts could be construed as types of aphorism.

Often aphorisms are distinguished from other short sayings by the need for interpretation to make sense of them. In A Theory of the Aphorism, Andrew Hui defined an aphorism as "a short saying that requires interpretation".

A famous example is:

You cannot step into the same river twice.

— Heraclitus

History

The word was first used in the Aphorisms of Hippocrates, a long series of propositions concerning the symptoms and diagnosis of disease and the art of healing and medicine. The often-cited first sentence of this work is: "Ὁ βίος βραχύς, δὲ τέχνη μακρή" – "life is short, art is long", usually reversed in order (Ars longa, vita brevis).

This aphorism was later applied or adapted to physical science and then morphed into multifarious aphorisms of philosophy, morality, and literature. Currently, an aphorism is generally understood to be a concise and eloquent statement of truth.

Aphorisms are distinct from axioms: aphorisms generally originate from experience and custom, whereas axioms are self-evident truths and therefore require no additional proof. Aphorisms have been especially used in subjects to which no methodical or scientific treatment was originally applied, such as agriculture, medicine, jurisprudence, and politics.

Literature

Aphoristic collections, sometimes known as wisdom literature, have a prominent place in the canons of several ancient societies, such as the Sutra literature of India, the Biblical Ecclesiastes, Islamic hadiths, the golden verses of Pythagoras, Hesiod's Works and Days, the Delphic maxims, and Epictetus' Handbook. Aphoristic collections also make up an important part of the work of some modern authors. A 1559 oil–on–oak-panel painting, Netherlandish Proverbs (also called The Blue Cloak or The Topsy Turvy World) by Pieter Bruegel the Elder, artfully depicts a land populated with literal renditions of Flemish aphorisms (proverbs) of the day.

The first noted published collection of aphorisms is Adagia by Erasmus. Other important early aphorists were Baltasar Gracián, François de La Rochefoucauld, and Blaise Pascal.

Two influential collections of aphorisms published in the twentieth century were Unkempt Thoughts by Stanisław Jerzy Lec (in Polish) and Itch of Wisdom by Mikhail Turovsky (in Russian and English).

Society

Many societies have traditional sages or culture heroes to whom aphorisms are commonly attributed, such as the Seven Sages of Greece, Chanakya, Confucius, or King Solomon.

Misquoted or misadvised aphorisms are frequently used as a source of humour; for instance, wordplays of aphorisms appear in the works of P. G. Wodehouse, Terry Pratchett, and Douglas Adams. Aphorisms being misquoted by sports players, coaches, and commentators form the basis of Private Eye's Colemanballs section.

Philosophy

Professor of Humanities Andrew Hui, author of A Theory of the Aphorism offered the following definition of an aphorism: "a short saying that requires interpretation". Hui showed that some of the earliest philosophical texts from traditions around the world used an aphoristic style. Some of the earliest texts in the western philosophical canon feature short statements requiring interpretation, as seen in the Pre-Socratics like Heraclitus and Parmenides. In early Hindu literature, the Vedas were composed of many aphorisms. Likewise, in early Chinese philosophy, Taoist texts like the Tao Te Ching and the Confucian Analects relied on an aphoristic style. Francis Bacon, Blaise Pascal, Desiderius Erasmus, and Friedrich Nietzsche rank among some of the most notable philosophers who employed them in the modern time.

Andrew Hui argued that aphorisms played an important role in the history of philosophy, influencing the favored mediums of philosophical traditions. He argued for example, that the Platonic Dialogues served as a response to the difficult to interpret fragments and phrases which Pre-Socratic philosophers were famous for. Hui proposes that aphorisms often arrive before, after, or in response to more systematic argumentative philosophy. For example, aphorisms may come before a systematic philosophy, because the systematic philosophy consists of the attempt to interpret and explain the aphorisms, as he argues is the case with Confucianism. Alternately, aphorisms may be written against systematic philosophy, as a form of challenge or irreverence, as seen in Nietzsche's work. Lastly, aphorisms may come after or following systematic philosophy, as was the case with Francis Bacon, who sought to bring an end to old ways of thinking.

Aphorists

Main page: Category:Aphorists

See also

References

  1. Definition of Aphorism from the Online Etymology Dictionary
  2. ^ Hui, Andrew (2019). A Theory of the Aphorism: from Confucius to Twitter. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. doi:10.23943/princeton/9780691188959.001.0001. ISBN 9780691188959.
  3. "Heraclitus' Poetic Ideas" (PDF). University of North Carolina. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  4. ^  One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Aphorism". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 2 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 165.
  5. Заголовок (2003-06-30). ЗАЛОЖНИК ВЕЧНОСТИ Михаил Туровский/ЗАЛОЖНИК ВЕЧНОСТИ Михаил Туровский (in Russian). Peoples.ru. Retrieved 2013-10-15.

Further reading

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