Aphorism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
December 25th, 2005,Aphorism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
….an aphorism is a statement which defines a perspective by illustrating or describing the horizon of that perspective. Instead of standing outside a viewpoint and describing the viewpoint, an aphorism adopts a viewpoint and identifies the things which are only visible from that perspective. Usually an aphorism is a very concise statement of a phenomenology.
….“Children should be seen and not heard” contains emphatic repetition of the consonants n and d (”Children should be seen and not heard“). Metrically, it consists of four syllables without strong rhythmical marking (“Children should be”) followed by a pronounced choriamb (”SEEN and not HEARD”). It is thus remarkably similar to octosyllabic verse-forms found in many ancient literatures, including Sappho’s lyrics and the hymns of the Rig-Veda.
Aphorism and society
In a number of cultures, such as Samuel Johnson’s England and tribal societies throughout the world, the ability to spontaneously produce aphoristic sayings at exactly the right moment is a key determinant of social status.