A definition of ‘aphoristic saying’

It is necessary to begin with at least a working definition of the kind of saying in which we are interested, the ‘aphoristic saying’. The following considerations will apply.

1. In form, aphoristic sayings are short, pithy sayings, arresting in their succinctness of expression. They may be either a declarative statement or a question. The special class which are imperative in form will be considered ‘wisdom admonitions’, and these will be more precisely defined in Chapter 3.2. J. M. Thompson notes: ‘Beyond this, however, we find the frequent use of rhyme, meter, repetition, alliteration, assonance, simile, and metaphor.’ Yet the presence of simile or metaphor does not in itself constitute an aphoristic saying.

2. Despite their brevity, aphoristic sayings are self-contained and require no specific narrative context. They express thoughts which are general and complete in themselves. Possible fragments of such sayings will receive only slight attention.

3. Partly because they are self-contained, aphoristic sayings can be applied to a variety of contexts and situations. The degree of openness may vary and may be related to the extent of metaphorical imagery which exists for a given saying, but it is questionable how far this may be quantified. It does not seem helpful therefore to distinguish between proverbs and ‘non-proverbial wisdom sentences’ on the basis of degree of hermeneutical openness. But aphoristic sayings will not be restricted primarily to a single specific setting or situation.

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