Adage
An
adage (
IPA ) is a short, but memorable saying, which holds some important fact of experience that is considered true by many people, or it has gained some credibility through its long use.
Adages may be interesting observations, practical or
ethical guidelines, or
pessimistic comments on life. Some adages are products of
folk wisdom which attempt to summarize some basic truth; these are generally known as
proverbs. An adage which describes a general rule of conduct may be known as a "
maxim". A pithy expression which has not necessarily gained credit through long use but which is distinguished by particular depth or good style is known as an
aphorism, while one distinguished by
wit or
irony is known as an
epigram. Through overuse, an adage may become a
cliché or
truism.
Adages coined in modernity are often given proper names and called "laws", in imitation of
physical laws, or "principles". Some adages, such as
Murphy's Law, are first formulated informally and given proper names later, while others, such as the
Peter Principle, have proper names in their initial formulation; it might be argued that the latter sort does not represent "true" adages, but the two types are often difficult to distinguish.
Adages formulated in popular works of
fiction often find their way into
popular culture, especially when there exists a
subculture devoted to the work or its
genre, as is the case with
science fiction novels. Many
professions and subcultures create their own adages, which may be seen as a sort of
jargon; such adages may find their way into popular usage, sometimes becoming altered in the process.
Online communities, such as those which develop in
internet forums or
Usenet newsgroups, are known for generating their own adages.
:For a listing of old adages, see "
proverb":See
List of adages named after people for a popular adages.
*
TANSTAAFL: There ain't no such thing as a free lunch.
*
Laws of infernal dynamics:
**An object in motion will be moving in the wrong direction.
**An object at rest will be in the wrong place.
**The energy required to move an object in the correct direction, or put it in the right place, will be more than you wish to expend but not so much as to make the task impossible.
*
Law of conservation of misery: Misery is never created or destroyed, just transformed.
*
The 2004 Edge Annual Question: What's Your Law?: A collection of the modern adages of various scientific personalities convened by
John Brockman's
Edge online salon.
