Examples of Adage in Literature

Now here's a wise man: Benjamin Franklin. From 1732 to 1758, he published Poor Richard's Almanack. In colonial times, almanacs were quite popular. They contained weather forecasts, household tips and tricks, and other fun facts. Franklin wrote under the pen name "Poor Richard," but, of course, most of the musings came from his wise mind. In the list below, you'll find that many of the adages we know and love today came from Franklin himself.

• "A penny saved is a penny earned."
• "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
• "Eat to live, and not live to eat."
• "Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise."
• "Fish and visitors stink after three days."
• "Little strokes fell great oaks."
• "To err is human, to repent divine; to persist devilish."
• "Well done is better than well said."

Now, let's get into some of our favorite authors. As you read each adage, take a moment to pause and reflect on its meaning. No doubt, the goal is to impart knowledge. Perhaps they'll help us go forward with keen minds that make wise decisions.

Adagia is a collection of Greek and Latin proverbs. Proverbs and adages are quite similar. They're short sayings that are well-known. The main difference between the two is that proverbs try to dole out advice. Meanwhile, adages merely state an accepted truth. Furthermore, not all adages are proverbs. However, if a proverb is repeated enough, it can go on to become an adage.

The first edition of Adagia was published in 1500. Isn't it interesting that some of the things we say today are steeped that far in history? Let's take a look at some examples:

• "Don't put the cart before the horse."
• "Many hands make light work."
• "Let's call a spade a spade."

Aesop's Fables is a collection of short, fictional stories believed to be developed by a slave from ancient Greece. Some of these adages are said to date back as far as 620 B.C. Let's take a look:

• "Things are not always what they seem." - "Bee-Keeper and the Bees"
• "Appearances often are deceiving." - "The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing"
• "Familiarity breeds contempt." - "The Fox and the Lion"
• "Slow and steady wins the race." - "The Tortoise and the Hare"
• "One person's meat is another's poison." - "The Ass and the Grasshopper"

Of course, most writers don't come up with a plethora of adages in one text. Rather, singular lines from entire works go on to be quoted and regarded as truth. Let's enjoy a sampling of singular adages from completed works:

• "It's better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all." - "In Memoriam," Alfred Lord Tennyson
• "Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're going to get." - Forrest Gump, Winston Groom
• "The early bird catches the worm." - A Collection of English Proverbs, John Ray
• "Better safe than sorry." - Rory O'More, Samuel Lover
• "A friend to all is a friend to none." - Aristotle

The Bible isn't one large book. Rather, it's a series of stories within one large text. Its writers are numerous and, well, only God knows where some of the truths come from. Still, many of the teachings apply to life today and are accepted as wise truths. Here are some examples:

• "A leopard cannot change his spots." - Jeremiah 13:23
• "This is nothing more than a drop in the bucket." - Isaiah 40:15
• "Many are called, but few are chosen." - Matthew 22:14
• "You will be more blessed to give than to receive." - Acts 20:35
• "There is no peace for the wicked." - Isaiah 48:22, Isaiah 57:21
• "Pride goes before a fall." - Proverbs 16:19
• "A soft answer turns away wrath." - Proverbs 15:1
• "Follow the straight and narrow path." - Matthew 7:14
• "The love of money is the root of all evil." - 1 Timothy 6:10
• "The truth shall set you free." - John 8:32
• "To everything, there is a season." - Ecclesiastes 3:1

Most of us enjoy a good quote. We see them shared on Facebook and Instagram all the time. They provide short pauses for reflection. The human condition must not have changed much over time; we repeat a lot of the same truths century after century.

We mentioned the close bond between adages and proverbs. There's one more member of the wisdom club: aphorisms. These are opinion-based statements spoken by an individual that have gone on to be accepted as truth.

The main difference between aphorisms, proverbs, and adages is that aphorisms are considered to be definitions or concise statements of a principle. They're not trying to dole out advice, like a proverb. Rather, they have more of a matter-of-fact sentiment. While some of them have a bit of a humorous edge to them such as, "A bad penny always turns up," they do tend to be accepted as truth.

Enjoy these Examples of Aphorisms to learn more.