Address & Argument

Aphorism

AF-or-iz-um / ˈæfərɪzəm

A short statement of a general observation or principle. Its brevity can make it memorable, but does not establish that the claim is true.

"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife." — Austen (ironic aphorism)

Don't confuse it with Irony. A maxim instructs conduct; an epigram jokes; the aphorism claims truth. Austen's is an aphorism wearing irony.

Examples

A promise is easy to make and costly to keep.

Practice example · written for this exercise

The compact, freestanding statement presents a general observation about promises.