ALL ABOUT "APHORISMS" AT A GLANCE

    

Aphorisms are statements or catchphrases that contain a truth or opinion expressed in a concise (and sometimes witty) manner. This rhetorical device is used by authors to reveal truths that are relevant to human experiences through metaphors and communicate messages that are easily remembered.

 Aphorism is a short pithy statement. It is a concise statement of a principle; a short pointed sentence expressing a truth, precept; a terse saying embodying a general truth or principle.

 An aphorism is understood as a brief and doctrinal phrase or sentence that is proposed as a rule in some science or art.

 Examples of Aphorisms

“Better the devil you know than the devil you don't”—It's preferable to be confronted with an unpleasant but familiar person or situation than a completely new and unknown person or situation that may be worse.

 No aphorism is truly universal, but many of them retain some staying power because people find that they express valuable truths about the way the world works. Finally, many aphorisms are motivational or inspirational, giving people ideas and allowing them to think about the world and their lives in new ways.

 Origin of aphorisms:

It's sometimes applied to quite different types of writers, and aphorists include wits, spiritual and poetic thinkers, straight up philosophers, and the chronically mordant.

  Ancient Greek physician, Hippocrates, coined the term Aphorism and wrote an entire book of medical aphorisms such as: “Life is short, and Art long; the crisis fleeting; experience perilous, and decision difficult. Later   opportunity fleeting, experiment treacherous, judgment difficult were added to the list of Aphorism of Hippocrates.

 IS a aphorism is like a proverb?

An aphorism is a short statement used to express a wise opinion. Aphorisms are different from proverbs because they make use of simple language. Aphoristic style of writing makes use of epigrams and condensed phrases to express wise thoughts. Sir Francis Bacon is famous for writing using aphorisms.

 Relevance in Today’s context:

Aphorisms are powerful little tricks of the writing trade. They simplify complex issues into short, memorable statements to make readers think. “The early bird gets the worm,” “Practice makes perfect,” and “Honesty is the best policy,” have existed since ancient Greece, and people still use these phrases today

Planning to start reading the book THE LESS YOU PREACH THE MORE YOU LEARN BY SHASHI THAROOR & JOSEPH ZACHARIAS from Tomorrow. Before that thought to brush up about Aphorisms and so came out this blogpost.