maxims
Wise words distilled
Maxims are concise statements of general truth or rules of conduct: Live and let live, Neither a borrower nor a lender be.
A maxim captures wisdom in memorable form, often passed down through generations.
The word suggests time-tested guidance rather than casual advice.
She lived by the maxim that honesty is the best policy.
Terse general truth
- proverbTraditional saying expressing truth
- adageTraditional pithy truth
- axiomSelf-evident starting principle
- dictumAuthoritative formal statement
precept · epigram · truism · motto · saw · apothegm · byword · gnome
Foundational moral beliefs
- rulesPrinciples governing behavior
- guidelinesSuggested rules for behavior
- preceptsRules of conduct
- directionsGuidance for reaching somewhere
advice · recommendations · instructions · standards · tenets · codes · doctrines · teachings
Study of fundamental truths
- insightDeep perceptive understanding
- prudenceCareful, wise judgment
- sagacityPenetrating mental acuity
- discernmentKeen perception and judgment
judgment · foresight · understanding · acumen · perspicacity · astuteness · sapience · erudition
aphorism
Terse general truth
- proverbTraditional saying expressing truth
- adageTraditional pithy truth
- axiomSelf-evident starting principle
dictum · precept · epigram · truism · motto · saw · apothegm · byword · gnome · mantra
principles
Foundational moral beliefs
- rulesPrinciples governing behavior
- guidelinesSuggested rules for behavior
- preceptsRules of conduct
directions · advice · recommendations · instructions · standards · tenets · codes · doctrines · teachings · counsel
philosophy
Study of fundamental truths
discernment · judgment · foresight · understanding · acumen · perspicacity · astuteness · sapience · erudition · reason
- Gracianaphorisms, prudence, discretion
- folklorefairy tales, fairytales, folktales, folk tales, folk tale
- proverbsproverbs, sayings, adages, aphorisms, proverb
- Quotationsfamous quotes, aphorisms, epigrams, famous last words, sayings
- writingsessay, essays, article, articles, stories
- common sayingsproverbs, idioms, cliches, adages, aphorisms
maximsdissertations
Extended academic research documents
treatises · elaborations · expositions · discourses · essays
maximsspeculations
Unverified theories or guesses
conjectures · guesses · heresies · heterodoxies · hunches
maximsparticulars
Individual facts or details
specifics · anecdotes · exceptions · details · anomalies
- maximum securityHighest-level prison classification
- maximum speedHighest attainable velocity
- maximum capacityUpper limit of containment
- maximum sentenceLongest term a judge can impose
- maximum-security prisonHighest-level detention facility
- maximum effort
maximum, maxim, maximize, maximal, maximally, maximizer, maximization, maximizing, maximized