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
- Theodor W. Adorno (Minima Moralia: Reflections from Damaged Life)
- Georges Bataille
- Jean Baudrillard
- Ambrose Bierce (The Devil's Dictionary)
- George E. P. Box
- F. H. Bradley
- Burchard of Worms
- Malcolm de Chazal
- Cheng Yen (Jing Si Aphorism)
- Emil Cioran
- Arkady Davidowitz
- Nicolás Gómez Dávila ()
- Desiderius Erasmus
- Gustave Flaubert (Dictionary of Received Ideas)
- Benjamin Franklin
- Andrzej Maksymilian Fredro
- Robert A. Heinlein (The Notebooks of Lazarus Long)
- Edmond Jabès
- Tomáš Janovic
- Joseph Joubert
- Franz Kafka
- Karl Kraus
- Lao Tze
- Stanisław Jerzy Lec
- Georg Christoph Lichtenberg
- Andrzej Majewski
- Juan Manuel (the second, third and fourth parts of his famous work El Conde Lucanor)[citation needed]
- Mark Miremont
- Friedrich Nietzsche
- Oiva Paloheimo
- Dorothy Parker
- Patanjali
- Petar II Petrović-Njegoš
- Faina Ranevskaya
- François de La Rochefoucauld
- George Santayana
- Arthur Schopenhauer
- Seneca the Younger[citation needed]
- George Bernard Shaw
- Lev Shestov
- Sun Tzu
- Nassim Nicholas Taleb (The Bed of Procrustes)
- Mikhail Turovsky
- Mark Twain
- Voltaire
- Wasif Ali Wasif
- Oscar Wilde
- Alexander Woollcott
See also
- Adagia by Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus
- Brocard
- Chiasmus
- Epigram
- Epitaph
- French moralists
- Gospel of Thomas
- Greguería
- Legal maxim
- Mahavakya
- Maxim
- Proverb
- Pseudo-Phocylides
- Sacred Scripture:
- Book of Proverbs
- Ecclesiastes
- Hidden Words
- Wisdom of Sirach
- Saying
- Sūtra
- The Triads of Ireland, and the Welsh Triads
References
- 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.
- "Heraclitus' Poetic Ideas" (PDF). University of North Carolina. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
- 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.
- Заголовок (2003-06-30). ЗАЛОЖНИК ВЕЧНОСТИ Михаил Туровский/ЗАЛОЖНИК ВЕЧНОСТИ Михаил Туровский (in Russian). Peoples.ru. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
Further reading
- Geary, James (2005). The World in a Phrase: A Brief History of the Aphorism. New York: Bloomsbury. ISBN 9781608197620.
- Gopnik, Adam, "Brevity, Soul, Wit: The art of the aphorism" (includes discussion of Andrew Hui, A Theory of the Aphorism: From Confucius to Twitter, Princeton, 2019), The New Yorker, 22 July 2019, pp. 67–69. "The aphorism [...] is [...] always an epitome, 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 poetic." (p.69.)
- John Morley (1887), Aphorisms: an address delivered before the Edinburgh Philosophical Institution, November 11, 1887 (1st ed.), London: Macmillan Publishers, Wikidata Q19045853
External links
- (in English and Arabic) Commentary on Hippocrates' Aphorisms
An aphorism from Greek ἀforismos 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 HeraclitusHistoryThe 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 bios braxys dὲ texnh makrh 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 LiteratureAphoristic 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 Gracian Francois de La Rochefoucauld and Blaise Pascal Two influential collections of aphorisms published in the twentieth century were Unkempt Thoughts by Stanislaw Jerzy Lec in Polish and Itch of Wisdom by Mikhail Turovsky in Russian and English SocietyMany 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 PhilosophyProfessor 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 AphoristsTheodor W Adorno Minima Moralia Reflections from Damaged Life Georges Bataille Jean Baudrillard Ambrose Bierce The Devil s Dictionary George E P Box F H Bradley Burchard of Worms Malcolm de Chazal Cheng Yen Jing Si Aphorism Emil Cioran Arkady Davidowitz Nicolas Gomez Davila Desiderius Erasmus Gustave Flaubert Dictionary of Received Ideas Benjamin Franklin Andrzej Maksymilian Fredro Robert A Heinlein The Notebooks of Lazarus Long Edmond Jabes Tomas Janovic Joseph Joubert Franz Kafka Karl Kraus Lao Tze Stanislaw Jerzy Lec Georg Christoph Lichtenberg Andrzej Majewski Juan Manuel the second third and fourth parts of his famous work El Conde Lucanor citation needed Mark Miremont Friedrich Nietzsche Oiva Paloheimo Dorothy Parker Patanjali Petar II Petrovic Njegos Faina Ranevskaya Francois de La Rochefoucauld George Santayana Arthur Schopenhauer Seneca the Younger citation needed George Bernard Shaw Lev Shestov Sun Tzu Nassim Nicholas Taleb The Bed of Procrustes Mikhail Turovsky Mark Twain Voltaire Wasif Ali Wasif Oscar Wilde Alexander WoollcottSee alsoWikiquote has quotations related to Aphorisms Wikisource has original text related to this article Aphorisms Adagia by Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus Brocard Chiasmus Epigram Epitaph French moralists Gospel of Thomas Gregueria Legal maxim Mahavakya Maxim Proverb Pseudo Phocylides Sacred Scripture Book of Proverbs Ecclesiastes Hidden Words Wisdom of Sirach Saying Sutra The Triads of Ireland and the Welsh TriadsReferencesDefinition 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 Heraclitus Poetic Ideas PDF University of North Carolina Retrieved 26 October 2024 One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Aphorism Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 2 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 165 Zagolovok 2003 06 30 ZALOZhNIK VEChNOSTI Mihail Turovskij ZALOZhNIK VEChNOSTI Mihail Turovskij in Russian Peoples ru Retrieved 2013 10 15 Further readingGeary James 2005 The World in a Phrase A Brief History of the Aphorism New York Bloomsbury ISBN 9781608197620 Gopnik Adam Brevity Soul Wit The art of the aphorism includes discussion of Andrew Hui A Theory of the Aphorism From Confucius to Twitter Princeton 2019 The New Yorker 22 July 2019 pp 67 69 The aphorism is always an epitome 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 poetic p 69 John Morley 1887 Aphorisms an address delivered before the Edinburgh Philosophical Institution November 11 1887 1st ed London Macmillan Publishers Wikidata Q19045853External linksLook up aphorism in Wiktionary the free dictionary in English and Arabic Commentary on Hippocrates Aphorisms
