Anne Carson Quotes

I like to quote things.

APHORISM, n. Predigested wisdom. The flabby wine-skin of his brain Yields to some pathologic strain, And voids from its unstored abysm The driblet of an aphorism. "The Mad Philosopher," 1697

ADAGE, n. Boned wisdom for weak teeth.

A trite popular saying, or proverb. (Figurative and colloquial.) So called because it makes its way into a wooden head. Following are examples of old saws fitted with new teeth.

A proverb is much matter distilled into few words.

A proverb is good sense brought to a point.

A fine quotation is a diamond in the hand of a man of wit and a pebble in the hand of a fool.

An aphorism is never exactly true; it is either a half-truth or one-and-a-half truths.

A maxim is the exact and noble expression of an important and indisputable truth. Good maxims are the germs of all excellence; when firmly fixed on the memory, they nourish the will.

Curiosity killed the cat,” Fesgao remarked, his dark eyes unreadable. Aly rolled her eyes. Why did everyone say that to her? “People always forget the rest of the saying,” she complained. “‘And satisfaction brought it back.

APHORISM, n. Predigested wisdom.

There is no proverb that is not true.

An epigram is a flashlight of a truth; a witticism, truth laughing at itself.

There is another old poet whose name I do not now remember who said, 'Truth is the daughter of Time.'

Somewhere in the world there is an epigram for every dilemma.

Aphorisms are food for thought - like sushi, they come in small portions that are both delicious and exquisitely formed. And, like sushi, I can never get enough.

There is nothing more difficult to define than an aphorism.

A witty saying proves nothing.

A short saying often contains much wisdom.

A proverb is the wisdom of many and the wit of one.

A proverb is one man’s wit and all men’s wisdom.

An aphorism is true where it has fixed the impression of a genuine experience.

It has become quite a common proverb that in wine there is truth (In Vino Veritas).

The cure for mixed metaphors, I have always found, is for the patient to be obliged to draw a picture of the result.

Better the feet slip then the tongue.