Maxims: Wisdom in Concise Statements

There’s a huge chance you already know what a maxim is without looking up its definition. How could you not? You see and hear a lot of them daily, from multiple sources and seemingly in every direction.

What is a maxim?

A maxim is a short, memorable phrase that expresses a general truth or rule. Think of it as a concise nugget of wisdom. 

They speak of universal experiences and lessons that most of humanity can relate to. They mostly tackle philosophical, moral, and pragmatic situations.

However, they aren’t foolproof. A lot of maxims are dependent on your philosophy, beliefs, and perspective. Two people can interpret a maxim differently or consider different statements as maxims. 

A lot of maxims also seem wise at first but fall apart upon closer inspection. It also doesn’t help that a lot of them contradict each other, which can lead to confusion.

The term comes from the Latin word for “greatest.”

Examples of Maxims

Here are a few common maxims that you might have heard.

• It’s better to be safe than sorry.
• Opposites attract.
• You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.
• You’re never too old to learn.
• You’re either part of the solution or part of the problem.
• One man’s trash is another man’s treasure
• Rome wasn’t built in a day.
• If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
• Two heads are better than one.
• What goes around, comes around.
• Look before you leap.
• The early bird catches the worm.
• A penny saved is a penny earned.
• You reap what you sow.
• Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
• A picture is worth a thousand words.

Contradictory Maxims

As stated above, some maxims are contradictory. Here are a few:

• Actions speak louder than words. / The pen is mightier than the sword.
• Many hands make light work. / Too many cooks spoil the broth.
• Haste makes waste. / Strike while the iron is hot.
• Clothes make the man. / Don’t judge a book by its cover.
• Great minds think alike. Fools seldom differ.
• Knowledge is power. / Ignorance is bliss.
• The more, the merrier. / Three’s a crowd.
• Silence is golden. / The squeaky wheel gets the grease.

In Literature

Here are a few literary works that make use of maxims.

1. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle

“It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.”

2. Animal Farm by George Orwell

“All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.”

3. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

“All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.”

4. Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

“Wisely and slow. They stumble that run fast …”

5. Beyond Good and Evil by Friedrich Nietzsche

“Mature manhood: that means to have rediscovered the seriousness one had as a child at play.”

Maxims Vs. Other Concise Statements

Proverbs, adages, aphorisms, maxims, and truisms—short, evocative statements are confusing because people call them a lot of things and often interchangeably. And though these terms are technically different, they are so similar and have significant overlap.

A truism, for example, is a statement that is so obviously true that it doesn’t need to be said. A proverb or adage is an old, traditional saying that often uses metaphors or imagery to make a point. And an aphorism is a brief statement that cleverly expresses a general truth.

Repeat it enough times and a maxim can be considered a truism. A lot of proverbs have clever turns of phrases, making them aphorisms. And a truism, while obvious, can still impart wisdom like a maxim. 

Why writers use Maxims

You often use maxims to deliver and drive home an important message. By packaging big ideas into simple words, you can make your audience quickly feel a certain emotion or have a moment of reflection. 

When used as a recurring motif, it shapes your readers’ interpretation of your story and resonates with their own experiences, perspectives, and opinions. Think of how you sometimes pause your reading so you can digest a quote from your favorite book.

Storywise, a maxim can also be a thematic principle that guides your characters. It is what motivates their actions and beliefs. And if spoken by a character, it lends them authority and wisdom. You can also use it to highlight key points of your story or its overall message. 

These opportunities to reflect make your writing more engaging and memorable. Your message stays with your audience long after they’ve finished your work.

How to Incorporate Maxims into Your Writing

Maxims are memorable because they evoke a lot of meaning and emotion in such a short statement. That doesn’t mean you can write just any short message.

Choose your words carefully. Use strong, descriptive verbs and eliminate any unnecessary words. A maxim’s core characteristics are conciseness and memorability.

The maxim itself needs to be relevant to your theme and message. It should be natural to read within the context of your work. Your readers shouldn’t feel as if you’re pushing a lesson into them. Doing so overshadows the other elements of your writing.

Most of all, don’t overdo it. Being verbose makes the message sound pompous, cringy, or preachy. And use your maxims sparingly. Pick the moments in your writing where you can best illustrate your message.

What do you think of maxims? Share your thoughts below!

If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:

• Truisms: Obvious Truths or Rhetorical Device?
• Aphorism: Definition and Examples
• Zeugma: How One Word Can Create Connections Between Multiple Ideas
• Metonymy: Definition and Examples