What is an aphorism?

The art and definition of the aphorism

An aphorism is a short clever statement that expresses a general truth. A good aphorism is definitive and unconditional; it describes what is and not what could be. It inspires people to question previously held beliefs or rethink a forgotten idea. Its thought-provoking nature sets it apart from clichés, and its brevity sets it apart from adages and proverbs.

Write with Confidence using Editor

Elevate your writing with real-time, intelligent assistance

Learn more

An aphorism’s power emerges from its conciseness. People remember short statements easier than long ones, a fact that increases the likelihood of passing quippy wisdom down to the next generation. Being so short, they usually represent general truths rather than specific ones, so they appeal to a wide audience across cultures and thrive in an ever-changing society.

Succinctness isn’t the only reason aphorisms jump from the page and stick in our minds. They often contain metaphors and creative imagery to convey an idea—making them memorable. Concrete imagery helps readers digest abstract concepts.

Skilled writers use these familiar phrases as a jumping-off point to expand on more complex ideas. For example, you’ve probably heard the aphorism, “Behind every great man is a great woman.” Author Kate Hodges uses that as a jumping-off point for her aphorism, “Behind every great woman…is another great woman.”

Aphorisms also make good mantras when mentally coping in times of crisis. For example, some literature-lovers find comfort in Frank Herbert’s “Fear is the mind-killer” aphorism when facing something unfamiliar and frightening. Repeating the phrase reminds people that fear doesn’t do any good and instead dulls one’s senses and capabilities.

Aphorism examples

Peruse this list of aphorisms to get a better feel for this literary device. You’ll probably find a mix of familiar favorites along with new nuggets of wisdom.

• “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.” This classic Aesop quote means don’t celebrate a success preemptively. A lot of things can change before the success comes to fruition.
• “It’s better safe than sorry.” Samuel Lover used this phrase back in the 1800s to express how it’s preferable to ere on the side of caution and reap no benefits than to take risks and regret potential negative consequences.
• “Fall seven times, stand up eight.” This classic Japanese phrase means you may make several mistakes on your journey, but eventually you learn from them. There are no quick fixes in life, and anything worthwhile is worth the struggle.
• “Opportunities don’t happen; you create them.” Chris Grosser used this to explain how you can’t just wait for life to present you with good things; you have to take action and put in work for those good things to show up.
• “Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t.” This Irish phrase means it’s easier to face an undesirable situation you’ve faced before than an unfamiliar undesirable situation.
• “Better die on your feet than live on your knees.” Emiliano Zapata introduced this quote to express how you shouldn’t allow someone to take away your beliefs, freedom, and dignity; instead, stick to your morals and stand up to yourself.
• “Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes.” This Oscar Wilde quote is two-fold. It means making mistakes is part of gaining experience, and that even the wisest people make mistakes—using experience as a euphemism to hide the failures.
• “Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood.” Marie Curie said this to demonstrate how curiosity precludes fear.
• “Actions speak louder than words.” Derived from an old Catholic sermon by St. Anthony of Padua, this aphorism means it’s good to say you’ll believe in righteous things, but it’s even more admirable to take righteous actions.
• “Easy come, easy go.” This phrase comes from 400 B.C. China and carries two meanings. First, it means to console someone if they lose something after they gained it quickly and easily. Second, it means to express how people who gain something quickly and easily won’t work hard to keep it.

Using aphorisms in your writing

Big or small, old or young, privately or professionally, humanity just loves aphorisms. Use this knowledge to your advantage and try out this literary technique next time you sit down to write your book report, college essay, article, or presentation. Aphorisms may be a great way to tie together a few different ideas or explain a more complex concept in a manner that really resonates with your audience. Remember, brevity is key.