Aphodiidæ (afodiide)

pl. [NL., Fleming . =Syn. Aphorism , Axiom , Maxim , Precept , Dictum , Apo thegm , Saying , Adage , Proverb , Truism , Byword , Saw , all concur in expre ing a pithy general proposition, usually in one short sentence; but the longer the form the le applicable do these names become. An aphorism is a truth, pointedly set forth, relating rather to speculative principles, ethics, or science than to practical matters, and forming a brief and excellent statement of a doctrine: thus, "Moderation is the silken string running through the pearl-chain of all virtues," and "Maladies are cured by nature, not by remedies," are aphorisms . "Life is short, and art is long," is from the first aphorism of Hippo crates. An axiom is a self-evident truth, and is therefore used as a basis for reasoning. "A straight line is the shortest distance between two points" is one of the axioms of mathematics; "The greater good is to be chosen before the le " is an axiom of morals. The number of axioms is nece arily limited; of aphorisms, maxims, etc., unlimited. A maxim is a truth which, while not so definite and nece arily true as an axiom , yet equally acceptable to the mind, refers rather to practical than to abstract truth, government, busine policy, and the like: as, it is a sound stating one of the fundamental rules of conduct, civil he can afford to lose. It suggests a le on more pointedly and directly than aphorism , and differs from precept in that a precept is a direct injunction, whereas a maxim is a mere statement of a truth from which a precept may be deduced. It would be a precept to say, "In speculation not a precept , but an opinion given with authority, as from superior knowledge: as, a dictum of the critics; a dic tum of Carlyle's. An apothegm , in common matters what an aphorism is in higher, is e entially a terse proposition that makes a vivid impre ion on the mind: thus, "In the adversity of our best friends we always find something that doth not displease us"; this is called by Dean Swift a maxim , but is more properly an apothegm . "Heaven helps those that help themselves," and "He who fights and runs away May live to fight another day" ( Goldsmith , Art of Poetry), are apothegms . A saying is a lower grade of apothegm ; each is likely to be found a ociated with the name of the author: as, the apothegms of So crates; a saying of Poor Richard. Each is a felicitous expre ion current for its own sake, but deriving additional popularity from the celebrity of its author. "Herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth," John iv. 37; "The little and short say ings of wise and excellent men are of great value, like the dust of gold or the least sparks of the diamond," Til lots on . Adage and proverb are habitual sayings, generally of long standing, embodying the common sense of mankind on ordinary subjects. The adage is often the more vener. able by age and the more dignified in its character: as, "Nece ity knows no law." A saying may easily become an adage . Proverb as used in the Bible is often a saying : as, "Physician, heal thyself," Luke iv. 23; but in the mod aphorism ern sense proverb often appears in some concrete figurative and homely form: as, "Too many cooks spoil the broth"; "Every tub must stand on its own bottom." A truism is a truth too obvious to need explanation or proof; it is a word of relative application; what would be a truism to one might be an axiom or an aphorism to another. A byword is a cant term or phrase, in every one's mouth like a proverb, but applied in disparagement. Saw is a contemptuous term for an expre ion that is more com mon than wise, or for a trite or foolish saying reiterated to wearisomene . IMG:content-0941.png:[blocks in formation] -ic.] Relating to aphorisms; having the form of an aphorism; containing aphorisms. An equivalent form is aphorism a tic. The style of Junius is a sort of metre, the law of which is a sort of balance of thesis and antithesis.ce when he gets lines long, nothing can exceed the slovenline of the Eng out this aphorismic metre into of five or lish. Cole ridge, Table-Talk, p. 264. aphorist (af'ō-rist), n. [ aphor -ism + -ist.] A writer of aphorisms. He took this occasion of farther clearing and justifying what he had written against the aphorists . R. Nelson , Life of Bp. Bull, p. 246. aphoristic (af-ō-ris'tik), a. [ The method of the book is aphoristic. De Quincey. IMG:content-0942.png:[blocks in formation] aphoristically (af-ō-ris'ti-kal-i), adv. In or by aphorisms; briefly and pithily. These being carried down, seldom mi a cure, as Hippo crates doth likewise aphoristically tell us. Harvey . aphorize (af'ō-rīz), v. i.; pret. and pp. apho rized , ppr. aphorizing . [ ἀφορίζειν : see aphorism.] To utter aphorisms; write or speak in aphorisms; especially, make an exce ive use of aphorisms. Cole ridge .