What Is an Aphorism? | Definition, Meaning & Examples

An aphorism is a short saying that articulates a generally accepted truth about life. It’s common for them to be humorous or pithy, and at times their meaning might not be immediately obvious. They are commonly found in literature and philosophy, but also occur in day-to-day life.

Aphorism examples
“All that glisters is not gold.” —The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare

“Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel.” —Samuel Johnson

“All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does, and that is his.” —The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde

What is an aphorism?

Sometimes you will find aphorism used where a better word might be proverb. They both make statements about life and contain some wisdom or wit, but unlike most proverbs, an aphorism is attributed to a particular person.

Sometimes it is hard to be certain where an aphorism originated, and the best we can hope for is to track down where the currently used phrasing first appeared in print.

For example, “all that glisters is not gold” from Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice is expressing an idea found centuries before in Latin. Even Shakespeare’s rendition has become altered in popular use to “all that glitters is not gold” (the meaning is the same).

An aphorism is, in effect, a serendipitous coming together of a universal truth and a perfect expression of it. Previous versions, often in other languages, express the same idea, but the version that endures is the one that combines pleasing phrasing with conciseness and memorability.

Aphorisms are popular because they allow profound thoughts to be expressed succinctly and memorably. The downside of this brevity is that sometimes complex concepts—the very nature of our existence, for example—can be expressed in an aphorism that is unable to explore its full meaning (e.g., René Descartes’ “I think, therefore I am”).

Another danger or problem with aphorisms is that through overuse, they can be robbed of their meaning, becoming instead a truism (e.g., “What will be will be”).

Aphorism examples

Aphorisms come from sources as diverse as ancient philosophers, modern media, and culture. Sometimes they might be moderately well-known in their original language, as well as in translation.

Aphorism Source
The only constant in life is change. Heraclitus
Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose (The more things change, the more they stay the same). Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr
The ends justify the means. Niccolò Machiavelli
Actions speak louder than words. Æsop
Carpe diem (Seize the day). Horace
The pen is mightier than the sword. Edward Bulwer-Lytton
Everyone has a plan: until they get punched in the face. Mike Tyson
The greatest glory in living lies not in never failing, but in rising every time we fall. Nelson Mandela
The road to hell is paved with good intentions. Saint Bernard of Clairvaux
What is written without effort is in general read without pleasure. Samuel Johnson
Money doesn’t talk, it swears. Bob Dylan
Art, like morality, consists of drawing the line somewhere. G. K. Chesterton
No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear. C. S. Lewis
Persons with any weight of character carry, like planets, their atmospheres along with them in their orbits. Thomas Hardy

Frequently asked questions about aphorisms

What is the difference between an aphorism and an adage?

In everyday use, there is often little difference between aphorism and adage. But there are differences if you are being careful about meaning.

An aphorism is a saying or phrase that is attributed to a specific individual (e.g., Samuel Johnson’s “Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel”) and that is meant to be thought-provoking or wise.

An adage is a more general expression of a wise and widely accepted sentiment (e.g., “Time is money”).

One way of looking at it is that an adage expresses common sense, while an aphorism should make you think about the idea expressed.

What is the difference between an aphorism and an idiom?

An aphorism is an expression that is concise, thought-provoking, and attributed to an individual (e.g., Shakespeare’s “All that glisters is not gold”).

An idiom is a saying where the meaning of the phrase is different from the surface meaning of the words (e.g., “She is comfortable in her own skin”).

What is an example of an aphorism?

There are many examples of aphorisms, including:

  • “Everyone has a plan: until they get punched in the face.”—Mike Tyson
  • “The greatest glory in living lies not in never failing, but in rising every time we fall.”—Nelson Mandela
  • “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.”—Saint Bernard of Clairvaux
  • “What is written without effort is in general read without pleasure.”—Samuel Johnson
  • “Money doesn’t talk, it swears.”—Bob Dylan
  • “Art, like morality, consists of drawing the line somewhere.”—G. K. Chesterton
  • “No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear.”—C. S. Lewis
  • “Persons with any weight of character carry, like planets, their atmospheres along with them in their orbits.”—Thomas Hardy
How do you use aphorism in a sentence?

You can use aphorism in a sentence whenever you want to describe a saying that is concise, though-provoking, and attributed to a person:

  • “G. K. Chesterton has been called the ‘apostle of common sense’ and is known for the wit and wisdom of his aphorisms.”
  • “An aphorism requires concise language, wisdom, and a touch of mystery; no wonder they are a dying art.”

“Samuel Johnson’s Augustan mind was perfectly suited to coining the aphorisms for which he is famous.”

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Trevor Marshall

Trevor has a BA (Hons) in English Literature and Language, an MSc in Applied Social Studies, and Qualified Teacher Status in the UK. He has worked as a probation officer, social worker, and teacher. Having taught English Literature and Language in two schools in Prague for 15 years, he is now freelancing as a photographer and writer.