proverb/saying/adage...

[blouen]

What´s the difference among these words:

Proverb, Adage, Aphorism, Maxim, Saying, Motto

[Anglika]

Blouen - where's your dictionary?

[hdrao]

What´s the difference among these words:

Proverb, Adage, Aphorism, Maxim, Saying, Motto

A proverb is a short pithy saying, expressing a folksy truth that is widely accepted, as in “A fool and his money are soon parted.”

An adage is a time-honoured widely known proverb that has become accepted as a truth, such as, “Actions speak louder than words.” (An old adage is a cliché.)

An aphorism is a short statement expressing a piece of wisdom, often wittily put. Aphorism implies depth of content and stylistic distinction: Few writers have coined more aphorisms than Benjamin Franklin has.

A maxim is a concise statement of a principle, a truth, or a rule of conduct, such as, “Neither a borrower nor lender be.”

A saying is an often repeated and familiar expression: a collection of philosophical sayings. The sayings of Confucius.


A motto differs from the maxim in that it merely states a guiding principle or belief rather than a precept. Mottoes are usually chosen by a group, an institution, a nation etc. as an expression of a purpose or ideal: “Be prepared “ is the motto of the Boy Scouts; “In God we trust” is the motto of the United States.

( Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)

[blouen]

Well, I did look it up in my dictionary and it appears to me that a proverb, a maxim, an aphorism, and an adage are quite similar to each other. How would I know the difference?