# How do you distinguish between an aphorism, adage, proverb or epigram (or idiom or maxim)?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-distinguish-between-an-aphorism-adage-proverb-or-epigram-or-idiom-or-maxim/983239>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 26, 2023, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-distinguish-between-an-aphorism-adage-proverb-or-epigram-or-idiom-or-maxim/983239 "2023-04-26T23:04:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\
**Post date:** [April 27, 2023, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-distinguish-between-an-aphorism-adage-proverb-or-epigram-or-idiom-or-maxim/983239/21 "2023-04-27T17:52:00Z")

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Now you’ve done it. You have to explicate the difference between Principles and Laws.

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