Aphorism

DEFINITION

An adage; a brief statement of a principle, or an opinion held to be true or deeply felt.Examples of works employing aphorisms: Eric Gill (English, 1882-1940), Inscription 'Ex Divina Pulchritudine', 1926, Hoptonwood stone relief, 30.6 x 45.7 x 3.8 cm, Tate Gallery, London. This Latin inscription is an aphorism meaning, "The beauty of God is the cause of the being of all that is." See capital letters.Many artists' writings are simply collections of their aphorisms. "An aphorism ought to be entirely isolated from the surrounding world like a little work of art and complete in itself like a hedgehog." Friedrich Schlegel (1772-1829), German philosopher, critic, writer. Dialogue on Poetry and Literary Aphorisms, "Selected Aphorisms from The Athenaeum," aphorism 206 (1968; first published 1798). "Everything has been said before, but since nobody listens we have to keep going back and beginning all over again." Andr? Gide (1869-1951), French writer. Le trait? du Narcisse, 1891. "There are things that don't deserve to be said briefly." Jean Rostand (1894-1977), French writer. De la vanit?, 1925.Quote: "There are five laws of aphorisms: 1