Aphorism

Anaphorism was a type ofsayingdescribed as a conciseobservation that expressed a generaltruth, piece ofadvice, or rule ofconduct.

When attemptingTwaining withCoqqor,Carol Freeman askedSam Rutherford what she was supposed to say. Rutherford suggested "Homespun aphorisms about compromise." (LD: "Something Borrowed, Something Green")

Aphorisms[]

Human[]

"A watched pot never boils"

• In2369,Data chose to test the aphorism, 'a watched pot never boils'. To do so, he "boiled the same amount ofwater in thiskettle sixty two times. In some cases, I have ignored the kettle. In others, I have watched it intently. In every instance, the water reaches itsboiling point in precisely 51.7seconds. It would appear that I am not capable of perceivingtime any differently than myinternal chronometer." (TNG: "Timescape")

"Better late than never"

An aphorism attributed toTitus Livius inA History of Rome. (VOY: "Human Error" /VOY: "Before and After", "Prey", "Timeless", "The Fight", "Someone to Watch Over Me";ENT: "The Breach")

"Ignorance is bliss"

• TNG: "Realm Of Fear"

"Leave well enough alone"

• TNG: "Clues";DS9: "For the Cause", "Waltz"

"Live life to the fullest"

• TOS: "The Cage"

"Necessity is the mother of invention"

• Hannah Bates, someone noted on theGenome colony to be one of the bestscientific minds of hergeneration was astounded by all the newtechnologies she observed aboard theUSSEnterprise-D in2368, she thought to herself, "If we're so brilliant how come we didn't invent any of these things?"Geordi La Forge's response was that "maybe necessity really is the mother of invention," and that "you never really look for something until you need it." (TNG: "The Masterpiece Society")

"One cannot cheat fate"

• WhenData'shead was discovered underSan Francisco in2368,CaptainJean-Luc Picard wanted to see that the investigation that began with hisdeath doesn't end that way. Data claimed that he appreciated the Captain's concern, "but, to employ an aphorism, 'one cannot cheat fate.'" (TNG: "Time's Arrow")

"The left hand does not know what the right hand is doing"

• When Data reviewing variousorders given through theranks ofStarfleet during theparasitic beingconspiracy in2364, he observed that they were given with great subtlety. He stated, "To use an aphorism,Starfleet's 'left hand did not know what its right hand was doing.'" (TNG: "Conspiracy")

Klingon[]

"There is no honor in attacking the weak"

• WhenWorf observed his estrangedson,Alexander, not playing well with otherchildren aboard theEnterprise-D, he apprised him that "there is nohonor in attacking the weak." Alexander announced to Worf that he would have won, but Worf, reminding him that that was not so, and that "you must earn vistocy." (TNG: "Reunion")

"There is no honor in self-pity"

• WhenEzri Dax and Worf were captured by theBreen and were planned to beexecuted onCardassia, she lamented the fact that her "contribution to theDax legacy will be to end it." Worf's replied was that "there is no honor inself-pity," which irritated her so much as to say, "You know, Worf, I have had just about enough of your little Klingon aphorisms." (DS9: "Strange Bedfellows")

External link[]

• Aphorism atWikipedia