Many use this word in everyday life. However, not everyone fully understands what it means. What is aphorism? How is it different from utterances, quotes , etc.? This should be sorted out.
Origin of the term
So, before considering what aphorism is, I would like to say a few words about the origin of this term. This Greek word, in translation, it means nothing more than "definition". Aphorism is a complete thought, distinguished by any originality. The main genre feature is conciseness and that such phrases are easy to remember. And deep meaning is embedded in them. What example can be given?
Let's say the following expression: "Why is the back strike most often done by those who protect the breast?" Such a phrase is really easy to remember, and it also makes you think and develop the idea stated in the aphorism. For the most part, the latter was achieved due to the interrogative nature of the proposal. Although the stated essence plays a certain important role here.
Quotes and aphorisms - what are their differences?
Many people confuse these concepts. Although, I must say, this is almost the same thing. But there are still some differences. In order not to be mistaken, one should clearly remember their definitions. So the quote is a literal thought. It can be a phrase written out of a book, poem or any other literary work. Quotes are often taken from films, literally removing them from the lips of the main characters. Sometimes they are discharged from songs. In general, a quote is a verbatim excerpt from a text. And what is aphorism? This is the name of a complete thought, the most accurate and concisely expressed.
But what are the differences? For the most part - in volume. A quote can consist of either a single sentence or several paragraphs. But aphorisms (most of them - about 70%) consist of only a few words. This is their peculiar highlight. More aphorisms appear most often in the context of any works. They can be artistic, philosophical, even scientific. Of course, there are copyright aphorisms. Take, for example, the catchphrase "stupid of both brawlers." It belongs to I.A. Krylov - the great fabulist.
Or such a phrase: "Everyone hears only what he understands." Goethe is a great thinker who is the author of this aphorism, which each person is able to prompt for thought. Interestingly, many such statements have a continuation. Only now each person thinks it out independently.
Vivid examples
Speaking of what aphorism is, one cannot do without striking examples. Perhaps, one of the most extravagant personalities, to which really interesting and original sayings belong, is Faina Ranevskaya. This is an incredible woman who said amazing things, often not embarrassed by strong words. No wonder her aphorisms and sayings are so popular, a book with her most “sharp” expressions was even released a few years ago. Well, some of them should be given as an example.
“If a patient really wants to live, doctors are powerless”, “Optimism is a lack of information” - Faina Ranevskaya could please people with ridiculous remarks and phrases that made you think and even rethink something. Her aphorisms about life are especially good, because she said what she thought. This quality has always been rare, and that is why - so valuable.
Thoughts of the great
Famous poets, writers and thinkers are also the authors of many winged expressions and aphorisms. The well-known Anton Pavlovich Chekhov said a phrase that was unambiguous at least once, but every person said in his life: "Brevity is the sister of talent." Three simple words, but how much meaning they have! And everything is clear - you don’t even have to think up anything here. This phrase is a confirmation of another aphorism by Anton Pavlovich. He said that one should be wary of an exquisite language.
The master of beautiful expressions was another great Russian poet - Sergei Yesenin. He said one good phrase: "He who loves, he cannot love, he who is burned cannot be set on fire." Yesenin was able to correctly choose comparisons and use them in his speech. That is how many of his statements were born, which became winged expressions.
Despite the fact that Sergey Alexandrovich was very young, he spoke words that aroused certain thoughts in a person. “You need to live easier, you need to live easier, accepting everything that is in the world” - this is also his expression. Few people quote it verbatim, but this phrase is vital for everyone. Everyone understands what Sergey Alexandrovich wanted to say.
Recognized Authors
Surprisingly, there are people who were truly recognized as authors of aphorisms. These include Sakya Pandita, who was a Tibetan scholar of the Middle Ages, Shota Rustaveli - a poet and statesman of the distant XII century, Juan Manuel - a Spanish writer, Francois de Laroshfuko - the author of a whole collection of aphorisms. But this is not the whole list. Friedrich Nietzsche, Mikhail Turovsky, Faina Ranevskaya, Alexander Woolcott, Bernard Shaw - these and many other great personalities are also authors of aphorisms, which are widely popular today and are unlikely to ever sink into oblivion.