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aph·o·rism (f-rzm)
n.
1. A tersely phrased statement of a truth or opinion; an adage. See Synonyms at saying.
2. A brief statement of a principle.



[French aphorisme, from Old French, from Late Latin aphorismus, from Greek aphorismos, from aphorizein, to delimit, define : apo-, apo- + horizein, to delimit, define; see horizon.]


apho·rist n.
apho·ristic (-rstk) adj.
apho·risti·cal·ly adv.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

I like purple prose meself.
mark say-it-concisely Bailey

An old suggestion that actually came after the word had been done. Here's the link:

http://www.alphadictionary.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=1769

apho·rist n.
apho·ristic (-rstk) adj.
apho·risti·cal·ly adv.

There is also a verb, aphorize (or aphorise) – to write or speak in aphorisms.

Francis Bacon (1561-1626) is appreciated for his aphoristic style, for example:

'Wives are young men's mistresses, companions for middle age and old men's nurses.' (Of Marriage and Single Life).

'Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested.' (Of Studies).

'Crafty men condemn studies; simple men admire them; and wise men use them.' (Of Studies)

'Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man.' (Of Studies)

'Revenge is a kind of wild justice.' (Of Revenge)

'Men fear death as children fear to go in the dark.' (Of Fear)

'Virtue is like precious odours, most fragrant when they are incensed or crushed; for prosperity doth best discover vice, but adversity doth best discover virtue.' (Of adversity).

Proverbs and aphorisms are closely related. Inside every proverb there is an aphorism.

There is also a verb, aphorize (or aphorise) – to write or speak in aphorisms.

Wouldn't this make it possible to call someone who does this an aphoriser?