Literary Terms - Adage

 

Literary Terms

Adage 

A brief piece of wisdom in the form of short, philosophical, and memorable saying is called ‘Adage’. It expresses a well-known and simple truth in a few words. It is a short, pointed, and memorable saying that is based on facts, and which is considered a veritable truth by the majority of people. An adage expresses a general fact or truth about life. Often repeated sayings and quotes become adages that pass-on to many generations. However, some adages have hidden meanings, and embody common observations. Sometimes proverbs are referred to as adages, but there is a slight difference. Adages, though full of wisdom, are sometimes also funny, witty, and catchy. Adages provide us with simple guidelines with which to live. In literature, adages are a sign of wisdom and of a work’s universal appeal and truth.

Adages are brief notes of wisdom which may be shared in conversation and literature in order to inspire, educate, and challenge others. Adages can heighten speeches with wisdom, teach children basic ideas about morality and kindness, and remind all audiences of what is most important.

Examples:

Stupid is as stupid does.

Eat, drink, and be merry.

(This adage comes from the Bible, in Ecclesiastes 8:15. It simply tells people to enjoy life as much as possible).

No gain without pain.

Have you something to do tomorrow? Do it today.

What you would seem to be, be really.

Things are not always what they seem.

Be content with what you have.

United we stand, divided we fall.

A penny saved is a penny earned.

Opposites attract.

Birds of a Feather Flock Together.

The clothes make the man.

The early bird gets the worm.

A drowning man catches at a straw.

Better safe than sorry.

Seek and you will find.

Practice makes a man perfect.

There is something wrong at the bottom.

A hungry man is an angry man.

 

Like adages, clichés are well-known and often express a basic, commonly-held belief about life. The difference between an adage and cliché is taste: clichés are considered worn-out, overused, and unoriginal. They are to be avoided. Adages, on the other hand, are known by all and used frequently due to their accepted wisdom. Furthermore, clichés can refer to characters, ideas, or sayings, whereas adages are only sayings.

Examples:

Adage:

Don’t forget to stop and smell the roses.

Cliché:

After a fight, a man buys his girlfriend a dozen red roses.

Adage:

Slow and steady wins the race.

Cliché:

Haste makes waste!

 

An adage presents truth and does not give any moral advice. On the other hand, a proverb presents a piece of advice along with stating a universal truth. Whereas an adage is a common observation and could be linked to any context, a proverb is not a common observation.

“Don’t cast your pearls before swine.” – Matthew 7:6

“More blessed to give than to receive.” – Acts 20:35

“Pride goes before a fall.” – Proverbs 16:18

“To everything there is a season.” – Ecclesiastes 3:1

 

Synonyms of Adage

The adage is also called an apothegm, byword, aphorism, epigram, maxim, proverb, saw, saying, and sententia. Almost all of them have a slight difference in meanings, depending on the context.