What is an Aphorism?

♦ Aphorism:
- A terse, memorable expression of a universal truth.
- The use of Aphorism reflects the range of an author's experience and adds universality to the text in which it is used.
- Aphorism is different from a proverb: A proverb is an anonymous expression of a general truth while an aphorism is a truth takes out of one's personal experience.
- Proverbs are traditional but aphorisms are individual.

- 'To err is human, to forgive divine' হচ্ছে একটি universal truth যার অর্থ “মানুষ মাত্রেই ভুল” এবং “ক্ষমা করা স্বর্গীয়।
- সুতরাং, এই উক্তিটি Aphorism এর একটি উদাহরণ।
- উক্তিটি Alexander Pope এর An essay on criticism হতে উদ্ধৃত।

Source: An ABC of English Literature, Dr. M Mofizar Rahman.