Many of the great one-liner thoughts of the past have gone unexplained or even unread. Contained in this volume are some of those thoughts and aphorisms, accompanied by a brief explanation of what each one means. “How appropriate that early authors of aphorisms were called ‘wisdom writers.’ John Lorton ably explains the philosophic underpinnings of selected aphorisms and reveals the wisdom inherent in their succinct expression.” — Alice Kawazoe, California Academic Partnership Program, California State University, and the Stanford Research Network “The author, John W. Lorton, states that aphorisms cannot be defined, yet here is a compilation of aphorisms clearly defined through example. This collection of aphorisms from great minds throughout the centuries not only clarifies each aphorism through example, but unlike James Geary’s Guide to the World’s Great Aphorists, elaborates on each aphorism by applying it to twentieth- and twenty-first-century life, making the book a valuable tool for high school and university teachers of English, philosophy, and social studies.” —Nancy Polette, Professor at Lindenwood University, St. Charles, Missouri