Aphorism
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An aphorism is a concise, terse, statement of a general truth or principle.[1] Aphorisms are often handed down by tradition from generation to generation.
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".[2]
A famous example is:
It is not possible to step into the same river twice.
The term aphorism is derived from the ancient Greek aphorismos, denoting 'delimitation', 'distinction', and 'definition.'
- Further reading
Aphorism, Wikipedia
Notes
- ↑ Definition of Aphorism from the Online Etymology Dictionary
- ↑ 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.