Aphorism
Pattern
Compact general truth — memorable and quotable
Definition
A concise, pointed statement expressing a general truth or principle, often with wit.
Examples
Example 1
Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Lord Acton, 1887
A concise, memorable statement of political truth that has outlived its author by centuries
Example 2
The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.
Franklin D. Roosevelt, First Inaugural Address, 1933
A paradoxical aphorism that reframes the crisis from external threats to internal psychology
Example 3
In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.
Attributed to Albert Einstein
A short, quotable statement that encapsulates a counterintuitive truth about adversity
AI Detection Note
AI attempts aphorisms but typically produces platitudes rather than genuinely sharp formulations. AI aphorisms tend to be safe and unsurprising ('Change begins with understanding') rather than pointed or provocative.
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