I love a good aphorism, a main reason why I'm such a big fan out Benjamin Franklin (my favorite founder), and I believe everyone has come up with at least a few of their own within a lifetime. So if you've ever had what you'd consider a profound thought, toss it out there, and let us all learn a little from your wisdom. I'll start it going, of course. I thought of this one after so many years of working with emotionally disturbed teenagers in high school: "If you're going to burn your bridges, at least make sure you've crossed them first."
I just used this one somewhere on here. "I say if we do not repeat history, what else would we do with our time?"-Wrathful Buddha
Its very hard to write good aphorisms. I used to collect them. No form of literature is more condensed. I am curious to see if any one else has written any?
Arthur Schopenhauer and Nietzsche have TONS of great aphorism that I am sure are available on the interwebs. All of my favorites come from them.
'I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.' And if anyone believes that they'll believe anything!
I find it best not to try to write one. They tend to just pop into my head (usually while driving, for some reason). As a writer, I also enjoy conciseness in writing. I write a lot of poetry and some short stories, and most of them are very short--usually, I'm told, too short for publication. Anyway, here's another of mine (it's not my most favorite but...): Lead an interesting life, but be sure the world thinks you're boring. As soon as people realize you're interesting, they'll never leave you alone. - - - Updated - - - Do you think Voltaire was being a bit facetious? It's hard to tell with his writing, sometimes.
I don't believe I have read anything from Erasmus, but the other three have great aphorisms for sure.
This is not verbatim, but Schopenhauer says we always walk from desire to satisfaction, and from satisfaction we leap back into desire. That's what inspired my aphorism.
As far as creating new technologies and advancing our civilization, this can be an efficient attitude to foster positive growth. I guess it is a rather superficial growth, though; it doesn't truly prepare us for the actualities of our existence, does it?
One of my favorite devices!! I'm like Jimmy Durante... 'ah, cha.. cha..cha... I got a million of 'em!' Now, some are pretty pithy, so make sure you're in a safe space.. The progressives have been taking small steps with their agenda for ~100yrs. but they are a giant leap BACKWARD for humanity. Town drunks or village idiots is what the collective produces. It takes a family to raise a child. Leftism: substituting hysteria for history, feelings for facts, fantasy for reality We are no longer a republic of free people, but are choosing our dictators in a corrupt system where we pay them to oppress us. Broad brushes do not paint good detail. The left wants to destroy capitalism but their hate is so all consuming it destroys everything The left operates with a 'Field of Dreams' economic philosophy: 'If you print it, it will spend'. This is not our Father's America. We are deceived with lures of free stuff. We're selling our birthright for a mess of pottage. The productive citizens of the world cannot afford to keep a progressive 'zoo' for the amusement of social engineers. ok, ok.. that's enough.. i doubt they will be appreciated, anyway.
I think if we all examined, understood the implications, accepted, and extrapolated this attitude into everything we do, then growth would stop and the human race would cease to exist. I believe it is a philosophy for the few, and not the many.
Maybe not exactly an aphorisms but a signature I often use on political forums. " Your opinion does not change my facts.
Are you asking me if Voltaire wouldn't carry out his pledge? Oh I'd put money on it! And I doubt very much if anyone else would either. As a writer you will know that 'words are cheap' and 'actions speak louder than words'?
