![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.zenashapter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/hippocratesaphorisms.jpg\" "\\"hippocratesaphorisms\\"")
<\/a>The prologue to "Aphorisms" by Hippocrates<\/p><\/div>\n
How do I know I’ve owned my book for that long? I know because on the inside cover of my book is a certificate that reads \u201cPrize for Contribution to School Life 1991 \u2013 1992\u201d and it\u2019s made out to me (woot woot, younger-me!). I was awarded the prize for founding my school\u2019s very first writers\u2019 society (exactly twenty years ago), and my prize was a book voucher and a certificate. Knowing the certificate would be placed inside whatever book I purchased, I was careful to choose a book I’d keep for many years to come. Thankfully, I chose wisely. I loved aphorisms then and I still do.<\/p>\n
Aphorisms have been around for centuries, some people attribute the first aphorism to Hippocrates, and I think more people should write them. In fact, I want to inspire you… so here are five facts you might not know about aphorisms, but really should, if you want to give writing them a go:<\/p>\n
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- Aphorists do not argue or explain, they simply assert \u2013 in a way that makes them sound rather clever.<\/li>\n
- In some cultures<\/a>, the ability to spontaneously produce aphoristic sayings at exactly the right moment is a key determinant of social status.<\/li>\n
- Every aphorism must convince its reader that it is essentially true of every member<\/em> of the class to which it refers (they\u2019re nothing like epigrams, which need only be true of a single case *pish pish*).<\/li>\n
- Aphorisms can comment on science, humanity, philosophy, moral or literary principles, nature, society, government, love \u2013 anything. There\u2019s something for everyone.<\/li>\n
- Aphorisms often reflect the society in which they are created, as do anthologies of aphorisms. Famous collections of aphorisms include India’s Sutra<\/a>, the Hebrew Bible’s Ecclesiastes<\/a>, Islam’s Hadith<\/a>, and the Greek Enchiridion of Epictetus<\/a>.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
You see, aphorisms are fab! In fact, in celebration of aphorisms, I\u2019m going to post an aphorism on my blog each day for a month, starting today. If you have a favourite aphorism, or wish to comment on an aphorism I\u2019ve posted, this is the place to share your thoughts. Welcome to Zena’s Aphorism Month! Now get writing and come up with some of your own!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Five facts you really should know about aphorisms… I love aphorisms (however, please note: this is not one of the five facts you really should know about them). They\u2019re succinct summations of observation that make you think and sometimes see the world in a different light. Seeing life a different\u2026<\/p>\n
- Every aphorism must convince its reader that it is essentially true of every member<\/em> of the class to which it refers (they\u2019re nothing like epigrams, which need only be true of a single case *pish pish*).<\/li>\n