Objective

The Oxford Book of Aphorisms is an anthology of short pithy statements and maxims conveying a wealth of wit and insight to which neither the word nor a brief description can do justice.

This anthology demonstrates just how rewarding an art form the aphorism can be, and just how brilliantly the aphorist can illuminate the hidden truth, or lay bare the ironies of existence.

Subjective

"It is my ambition to say in ten sentences what other men say in whole books—what other men do not say in whole books." ~ Friedrich Nietzsche, Twilight of the Idols, 1888

"The hunter for aphorisms on human nature has to fish in muddy water, and he is even condemned to find as much of his own mind." ~ F. H. Bradley, Aphorisms, 1930

His "most gifted" book, B.J. Novak said "it contains the most brilliant one-liners in history. You can spend hours on a page, or you can just flip through it.” My copy is full of highlights, stickies, and notes.

"The only way to read a book of aphorisms is to open it at random and, having found something that interests you, close the book and meditate." ~ Prince Del Ligne, Mes écarts, 1796

Contexts

• The Oxford Book of Aphorisms is a #book I'm #frequently-reading