2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25
People collect aphorisms for a reason. In addition to already published books with their selections, numerous sites on the Internet, many of us also have our own personal collections of sayings. I must say that of all the existing collections, a set of favorite aphorisms will be an example of your wisdom, and not greed or indefatigable pride.
What is an aphorism?
An aphorism is an absolutely complete, logically completed thought, expressed succinctly, in an artistic form. It must be original, unusual and meaningful intellectually. As a rule, an aphorism is reproduced many times by different sources, and does not need additional advertising. The self-sufficiency of thought and the brightness of the image in such a statement, subject to the chosen number of words, sometimes makes it a real masterpiece. The monotony and wretchedness of our speech, which sometimes clearly smacks of bureaucracy, such a statement can correct and enrich.
Not every aphorism, an example of a witty word, is clear to anyone and everyone. It depends on the level of intelligence. But what was unclear in youth is understood over the years. In any case, he hasI’ll think about it, because the thought in the words of great people is often non-standard, and sometimes even paradoxical.
History of the aphorism
The word aphorism in Greek means "definition". The use of this term is first attributed to Hippocrates. But there was no tradition of publishing them as separate books for a long time. The opportunity to open a book and consolidate your idea by reading an aphorism - an example of a great author's statement - first appeared in 1500, when Erasmus of Rotterdam published Adagia. This book was a collection of not only aphorisms, but also sayings, anecdotes and sayings. It was the first edition of its kind.
I would like to mention in this regard the famous Maxims by Francois de La Rochefoucauld, which was a collection of caustic and venomous statements of the author himself. The first book was published in 1665.
Famous sayings of great people
This form of presentation of thought is sometimes quite practical. When a person cites the aphorisms of great people in his speech as an additional argument, by this he psychologically calls the author of the quote into his allies. This builds the audience's confidence in the speaker. This is a very effective and powerful technique.
It doesn't matter what kind of conversation you are taking part in: at a friendly party, a meeting of the scientific community, in a political discussion, at a presentation, or at a meeting among colleagues. Skillfully and timely inserted aphorism will help you and fixsuccess.
You need to be careful and think before you speak, because carelessly said, or even worse, incorrectly and inappropriately applied aphorism can not only not help, but also harm the cause. The Roman philosopher and writer Lucius Annaeus Seneca said: "The education of people should have begun with proverbs, and should have ended with thoughts." The aphorisms of great people must be remembered completely, word for word. And of course, the speech should mention who the author is.
Aphorisms and humor
Aphorism does not have to be solemn and serious. Funny aphorisms are quite acceptable, but humor in them is not an end in itself. It is rather a means of expression. In addition, the joke quickly reaches our feelings, passing by consciousness. Sigmund Freud says that laughter is an unconscious reaction, and thought must act directly on consciousness. Here is an aphorism, an example on this subject, it belongs to Friedrich Nietzsche: "The most subtle humor causes the most imperceptible smile." People often perceive great truths better with a smile on their face. David Andrew Gemmel, an English writer, said well on this score: “None of us are created for life. This life is made for us. We live it and leave.”
Aphorism or not?
How to distinguish it from a simple statement? An aphorism is essentially a saying. But not every saying becomes an aphorism. A saying can be just some clever idea or thought, but not expressed in an artistic form beautifully and concisely and not containing its inherent style.
Suchsayings of great people in an instructive form can be a maxim. But a maxim is not necessarily an aphorism. An example of a maxim is any motto, slogan, advertising slogan.
Sometimes proverbs are confused with aphorisms. A proverb is a popular expression in a fairly brief summary, has a simple syntax structure. It carries an edifying or instructive meaning, sometimes it has a rhyme or rhythm. The proverb has a simple and intelligible construction. The problem in it is expressed in the form of a domestic or everyday situation. Therefore, proverbs are simpler, although their meaning is meaningful. The aphorism is often complex, but has a very clear and unambiguous meaning. You can give such a statement, an example of this explanation: "Love is such a theorem that needs to be proved every day anew." By the way, in the Aphorisms about Love series, it is paradoxical in that it belongs to the mechanic, mathematician and engineer Archimedes. There is an unambiguous meaning here, a beautiful style with a slight tinge of contradiction. There is no everyday situation like: “Without labor, you can’t pull a fish out of a pond,” there is no mention of it.
Aphorism and quote
In the text, the aphorism is framed as a quote - a completely matching extract from the text. All punctuation marks must be repeated. The boundary of such an aphorism in your text should be indicated by quotation marks. You can highlight it in a different font. At the end, be sure to include the name of the author of the statement and its source.
The role of aphorisms in our fast age, when it is sometimes necessary to very briefly convey extensive and deep thoughts, is extremely great. They can inspire a person to many positiveactions and help to step over difficulties. The perfection and depth of thought of the aphorism is the best science of life.
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