Tag Archives: apothegm

Apothegm

Apothegm (a’-po-th-e-gem): One of several terms describing short, pithy sayings. Others include adage, gnome, maxim, paroemia, proverb, and sententia.


There’s a saying that I live by now that I’m an old man: “When the going gets tough, make an appointment with your urologist and get going to their office.” I could tell you endless horror stories about man-plumbing gone awry. What about the man with the 200 pound testicles? He put them in a wagon that his wife would pull when they went for a walk. When he was alone he had to use a wheelbarrow, like the guy in Zap Comics. Or, there was the man who didn’t pee for 12 years and ended up exploding on an amusement park ride called the “Stump Bumper.” Then there was a guy who couldn’t pass a gallstone for two years. He became addicted to pain killers and finally had the gallstone blasted by a laser and got off the drugs. Last, there was this guy who always had an erection. It was especially problematic at Church. He tried taping it down or using a bandage to flatten it. Eventually he started wearing custom tailored extreme baggy pants. That solved the problem and also made him millions as his line of baggy pant became popular among teen aged gangsters all over the world.

So, “When the going gets tough, make an appointment with your urologist and get going to their office.” Don’t end up with your balls in a wheelbarrow.


Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)

Apothegm

Apothegm (a’-po-th-e-gem): One of several terms describing short, pithy sayings. Others include adage, gnomemaximparoemiaproverb, and sententia.

If it’s illegal, or you don’t have the time or energy, but you just don’t want to completely quit, remember the old saying, “If you can’t beat ’em, slap ’em around a little bit.” A few well-placed little owies can prove a point with just about anybody!

Whatever you do, don’t follow this advice: “If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em.” Many a bleeding-heart reformist went down this road, and where did they end up? Ask Patricia Hearst. Benedict Arnold? Guy Fawkes? Wang Jingwei?

Take my advice and you won’t become a traitor, or more important, you won’t turn against yourself.

Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)

Apothegm

Apothegm (a’-po-th-e-gem): One of several terms describing short, pithy sayings. Others include adage, gnomemaximparoemiaproverb, and sententia.

“When the going gets tough, it’s time to go home.”

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)

Sententia

Sententia (sen-ten’-ti-a): One of several terms describing short, pithy sayings. Others include adage, apothegem, gnome, maxim, paroemia, and proverb.

My wonderful husband once told me, “I may be lying in the gutter, but I’m staring at the stars.”

Tonight, here in New Hampshire, I know what Bill meant. But tonight it is a little different! It is snowing like crazy and I can’t see the stars!

But seriously, if I were homeless, I’d just go to sleep and freeze to death in the gutter. But I am not homeless! I am not going to go to sleep! I am not going to freeze to death! Instead, I am going to South Carolina!

Before I board my campaign ambulence, I want to introduce my new Presidential Campaign Manager, Mr. Ben Gahzi!

In the coming months, Mr. Gahzi will . . .

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  • Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)

Adage

Adage (ad’-age): One of several terms describing short, pithy sayings, or traditional expressions of conventional wisdom.

“When the going gets tough, the tough get Flomax.” Dr.  Gowyn McBunnet (From Bowling Balls to BBs: The Golden Book of Prostate Wisdom)

Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).

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Maxim (max’-im): One of several terms describing short, pithy sayings. Others include adage, apothegm, gnome, paroemia, proverb, and sententia.

“Love of wit makes no man rich.”

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).

Proverb

Proverb: One of several terms describing short, pithy sayings. Others include adageapothegmgnomemaximparoemia, and sententia.

A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it. (Prov. 22:3 [NIV])

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)

Adage

Adage (ad’-age): One of several terms describing short, pithy sayings, or traditional expressions of conventional wisdom. [Others include apothegm, gnome, maxim, paroemia, proverb, sententia, and anamnesis {a related figure}]

A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu). Bracketed text added by Gorgias.

Sententia

Sententia (sen-ten’-ti-a): One of several terms describing short, pithy sayings. Others include adage, apothegm, gnome, maxim, paroemia, and proverb.

“We are what we repeatedly do.”

Aristotle (Quotations, Proverbs & Sayings)

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)

Apothegm

Apothegm (a’-po-th-e-gem): One of several terms describing short, pithy sayings. Others include adage, gnome, maxim, paroemia, proverb, and sententia.

“One of these days is none of these days.”

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)

 

Maxim

Maxim (max’-im): One of several terms describing short, pithy sayings. Others include adage, apothegm, gnome, paroemia, proverb, and sententia.

“Where the river is deepest it makes the least sound.”

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).

Paroemia

Paroemia (pa-ri’-mi-a): One of several terms describing short, pithy sayings. Others include adage, apothegm, gnome, maxim, proverb, and sententia.

“It’s hard to make a comeback when you haven’t been anywhere.”

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).

Gnome

Gnome (nome or no’mee): One of several terms describing short, pithy sayings. Others include adage, apothegm, maxim, paroemia, proverb, and sententia.

Liars are the loneliest people in the world.

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)

Proverb

Proverb: One of several terms describing short, pithy sayings. Others include adage, apothegm, gnome, maxim, paroemia, and sententia.

Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice. (Prov. 13:10 [NIV])

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)

Adage

Adage (ad’-age): One of several terms describing short, pithy sayings, or traditional expressions of conventional wisdom. [Others include apothegm, gnome, maxim, paroemia, proverb, sententia, and anamnesis {a related figure}]

No pain, no gain.

Or:

“Do not remove a fly from your friend’s forehead with a hatchet.” (The Quotations Page)

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Defintion courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu). Bracketed text added by Gorgias.