Aphorism

Aphorism

An aphorism is an original thought, spoken or written in a laconic (concise) and memorable form. Aphorism literally means a "distinction" or "definition", from Greek ἀφορισμός (aphorismós), which is from ἀπό (apo) and ὁρίζειν (horizein), meaning "from/to bound". The term was first used in the Aphorisms of Hippocrates. The oft-cited first sentence of this work (see Ars longa, vita brevis) is:

Read more about Aphorism.

Famous quotes containing the word aphorism:

    “The haiku lets meaning float; the aphorism pins it down.”
    —Mason Cooley (b. 1927)

    “The lyric deals with love and sorrow, the aphorism with contradiction and deceit.”
    —Mason Cooley (b. 1927)

    “The aphorism wants to be at the same time both main line and off beat.”
    —Mason Cooley (b. 1927)