Mason Cooley
The aphorism is a slippery plaything.Collection: Aphorism
The aphorism wants to be at the same time both main line and off beat.Collection: Time
A sentimental aphorism is even more a surprise than a hard- boiled sonnet.Collection: Sentimental
To be thoroughly modern, an aphorism should trail off vaguely rather than coming to a point.Collection: Modern
Like a frog, the aphorist waits for something to fly by that he can catch with his tongue.Collection: Waiting
The perfect aphorism would achieve classical balance and then immediately upset it.Collection: Perfect
Aphorisms may equivocate, but they must not wobble.Collection: May
Aphorisms know the angles, but not the structure.Collection: Aphorism
The aphorism: a platitude that swerves, or slides all the way around.Collection: Way
Once I find the right maxim to apply, I feel that I have done all that can be expected of me.Collection: Done
An aphorism that does not score is just one more sentence.Collection: Doe
The aphorism offers a momentary sense of mastery over some confusion or unhappiness.Collection: Confusion
Energy falls just short of being joy.Collection: Fall
Ironic and jittery, we are puzzled by the old heroes with their fighting, boasting, and cocksure lovemaking.Collection: Hero
The hero used to be the one in white. Now he is harder to spot.Collection: Hero
Heroes are born to be troublemakers.Collection: Hero
Good deal: justice for you, mercy for me.Collection: Justice
Opportunity often goes begging. Luck, never.Collection: Opportunity
A moratorium on opportunities, please. I need to recover from the last one.Collection: Opportunity
An imprudent enemy is less dangerous than an imprudent friend.Collection: Friends
Jokes are unanswerable objections.Collection: Jokes
We may eat dinner together, but everyone puts the food in his own mouth.Collection: Food
In a strange city, I connect through food and fantasy.Collection: Food
I may forget my dignity, but you may not.Collection: May
Reading about ethics is about as likely to improve one’s behavior as reading about sports is to make one into an athlete.Collection: Reading