The technical term is aphorism, a short saying that expresses a generally understood truth. Whether we call them proverbs, sayings, truisms, or maxims, their impact comes from being short, catchy, and easy to remember.
Our Bible contains an entire book of proverbs. The Israelites had a common saying: “The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge,” meaning that children are victims of their parents’ sins and shouldn’t be blamed for wrongdoing. Two prophets commanded Israel never to use that saying, because it wasn’t true. We control our own actions, are individually responsible, and should never blame others for our failures (Jeremiah 31:29–30; Ezekiel 18:2–3).
When I write an aphorism, I call them frankisms, a play on my name and the frank, or honest, expression of my perception of reality.
Here are a few:
- A lie has no power if it doesn’t appear to be true.
- A written story can live forever.
- The world we watch becomes the world in which we live.
- There’s no way to judge the value of work that’s never done.
- God wants to be your guide, not your chauffeur.
- If you don’t own a goat, nobody can get your goat.
- He who angers you controls you.
- Our most dangerous enemy is the one we fail to see.
- If we knew how much God was our answer, we wouldn’t bother with the questions.
- A miracle put the stars in space, but the greater wonder is to be saved by his grace.