You searched for: “epigram
epigram (s) (noun), epigrams (pl)
1. A concise, witty, and often paradoxical remark that is written or spoken by someone: An excellent epigram originating from Oscar Wilde is: “I can resist everything but temptation.”
2. A short poem, often expressing a single idea, that is usually satirical and has a witty ending or an ingenious turn of thought: Another example of an epigram is a brief saying that's either true and not new or new and not true.

A good epigram to remember: "If you think education is expensive, try ignorance and see what you get."

A humorous saying or satirical expression.
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Go to this Word A Day Revisited Index
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You may go to the Benjamin Franklin: A Genius of Many Gifts page to see several examples of epigrams.

epigram, epigraph
epigram (EP i gram") (noun)
A wise or witty saying: Benjamin Franklin knew how to present an epigram about many topics.
Here are a few examples of Benjamin Franklin's epigrams:

"Genius without Education is like Silver in the Mine."

"Keep our eyes wide open before marriage, half shut afterwards."

"He's a Fool who makes his Doctor his Heir."

"Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise."

epigraph (EP i graf") (noun)
1. An engraved or carved inscription on something; such as, a statue or building: The epigraph over the entry to the edifice gave the date when it was built.
2. A quotation at the beginning of a book, chapter, or section of a book, usually related to its theme: There is an appropriate and amusing epigraph located every so often in this dictionary.

The epigraph on the stone which marked the grave of the author quoted a portion of an epigram from his friend.

Additional epigrams are available at this "Benjamin Franklin: A Genius of Many Gifts" page.