Linda said:

"I think you mean aphorism."

UT Longhorn responds:

I think "sophisms" is correct for what Lefty was trying to say. "Aphorism" is not.

Often confused with proverbs and maxims which embody common observations and traditional wisdom, the aphorism originates as a fresh expression of a particular speaker's unconventional insights. While proverbs reflect the basic values of a society, aphorisms reflect the personal viewpoint of distinct individuals.

Proverbs are based on observations that anyone might immediately accept as generally true.

Aphorisms, on the other hand, are often initially startling. They are remembered as the saying of a particular author, while proverbs quickly become public property.

Oft-repeated aphorisms can in time become the wisdom shared by their author's followers. But they still reflect a characteristic outlook that distinguishes that particular group from others.

-- UTLonghorn

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