What is an Adage

What is an adage?

We’ve all heard sayings like “slow and steady wins the race” or “the early bird catches the worm,” but what exactly are these expressions? Known as adages, these phrases encapsulate age-old wisdom that has been passed down through countless generations. 

Throughout history, cultures around the world have passed down these short, impactful sayings. But what exactly defines an adage, and why do these expressions continue to resonate?

In this article we’ll give you everything you need to know about adages: what they are, examples in life and literature, how adages compare with other figures of speech, such as proverbs, aphorisms, and idioms, followed by a brief, handy FAQ and summary. By the end, you’re sure to feel like an expert. (Please feel free to scroll ahead if you wish.)

And without further ado…

What is an adage?

An adage is a saying that conveys commonly accepted wisdom or a common observation. 

They tend to be powerful can be a great way to convey 

For example, the phrase ‘Actions speak louder than words’ can be considered an adage.

Adages tend to be powerful and profound, and they are considered trustworthy because they convey the kind of wisdom that stands the test of time, and can occasionally even be applicable across different cultures and societies.

There are a great many popular adages in the English language, and they can take many forms. Sometimes it can be hard to differentiate between adages and other figures of speech, such as proverbs and cliches, but don’t worry, we’ll be covering these later in the article. (Do scroll ahead if you prefer.)

15 examples of common adages

Here are a few examples of adages for you.

  1. A swarm in May is worth a load of hay – The later it is in the year, the less time available for bees to collect pollen from flowers in blossom
  2. Perfect is the enemy of good – Just get started and don’t worry about getting things perfect
  3. A friend to all is a friend to none – Someone who remains neutral has no loyalty
  4. Honesty is the best policy – It’s generally better to be honest
  5. The meek shall inherit the earth – Those that are quiet or passive or neutral will one day inherit the world
  6. A fool sees not the same tree that a wise man sees – Fools wouldn’t cherish the tree for what it presents, but rather what they can get from it. They see destruction and self-benefit while the wise man sees more than meets the eye.
  7. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush – It’s better to have something certain than to risk losing it while chasing something more
  8. Appearances can be deceiving – Things are not always what they seem; superficial impressions can be misleading
  9. Laughter is the best medicine – trying to be happy is a good way to stop worrying
  10. A friend in need is a friend indeed – A true friend is someone who helps in times of trouble.
  11. Practice makes perfect – Diligent practice leads to expertise.
  12. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step – However difficult a task is, you can only complete it if you first start it
  13. Every cloud has a silver lining – There is something good in every bad situation.
  14. The early bird catches the worm – Success often comes to those who act early and seize opportunities.
  15. You reap what you sow – Your deeds, good or bad, will repay you in kind.

7 examples of adages used in classic English literature

Here follows some examples from literature.

  1. The road to hell is paved with good intentions – Even with good intentions, actions can lead to harmful outcomes if they are not well thought out.

Attributed to Samuel Johnson

  1. There is no sin but ignorance – Ignorance is considered the root of most human mistakes or wrongdoing.

Source: Every Man in His Humour by Ben Jonson (1598)

  1. Fools rush in where angels fear to tread – Reckless people are often quick to act in situations where wiser individuals tread carefully.

Source: An Essay on Criticism by Alexander Pope (1709)

  1. No man is an island – People are interconnected, and no one can live entirely independently of others.

Source: Meditation XVII by John Donne

  1. Absence makes the heart grow fonder – Being apart from someone makes you appreciate and love them more

Source: First recorded in The Pocket Magazine of Classic and Polite Literature (1832)

  1. The pen is mightier than the sword – Written words and ideas are often more powerful than physical force

Source: Richelieu; Or the Conspiracy by Edward Bulwer-Lytton (1839)

  1. All that glitters is not gold – Not everything that looks valuable or true turns out to be so

Source: The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare (Act 2, Scene 7)

Adages vs other figures of speech

Sometimes adages can be hard to differentiate from other categories of figures of speech. But this section should help you to distinguish them. 

Adage vs proverb

While both adages and proverbs are short sayings that express accepted truths and wisdom, proverbs are predominantly used to provide useful, practical advice, adages don’t necessarily always do that. Sometimes the receiver of a spoken adage may interpret the nugget of wisdom as a word of advice, but in the instance of an adage, the advice is not explicit, only implicit.

For example, a proverb may assert that ‘When in Rome do as the Romans do’, which is designed to encourage immersion in local culture and behaviour. While an adage is more like ‘There’s no such thing as a free lunch’, which hints at things but is not seen to assert specific advice.

Adage vs aphorism

Both adages and aphorisms are short sayings that express truths, but where aphorisms can be distinguished from adages in that they are designed to convey moral instruction or advice.

I know what you’re thinking, aphorisms sound a lot like proverbs. However, aphorisms can be distinguished from proverbs in a couple of subtle ways. For instance, aphorisms aren’t always as well known as proverbial sayings, and whereas proverbs are often metaphorical, aphorisms tend to be more direct and literal. Aphorisms are memorable, and tend to be delivered in a terse or sarcastic tone of voice, or with a hint of wit.

The phrase ‘Actions speak louder than words’ is a classic example of a proverb, while the phrase ‘It’s a sign of weakness to avoid showing signs of weakness’ is an aphorism. 

Adage vs idiom

While both adages and idioms are figures of speech that are common sayings, there is a subtle distinction between the two of them. An idiom is always a saying where you cannot deduce the meaning of the saying from the individual words alone, whereas this does not necessarily apply to adages.

Basically, an idiom can sometimes be an adage or proverb, and adages and proverbs can sometimes be idioms. An example would be ‘A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush’.

Furthermore, idioms often require cultural context, but this is less essential for adages, which tend to have a more universal application.

Adage vs cliché

To recap, an adage is basically a short saying designed to convey commonly accepted truths without necessarily providing advice. A cliche is an overused saying. For this reason clichés tend to be frowned upon.

There’s no reason why a cliché cannot also be a short saying that conveys commonly accepted wisdom. However, not all adages are considered clichés. While clichés tend to be frowned upon, this is not generally the case for adages or other figures of speech. 

FAQ

What is another word for adage?

Sometimes, people often use the word ‘adage’ with words such as ‘proverb’, ‘cliché’, and ‘idiom’. This is because there can be a great deal of overlap between these categories.

How do you identify an adage?

An adage is a short saying that conveys commonly accepted truths, but is not necessarily delivered with the intent to provide advice. An example would be ‘There’s no such thing as a free lunch’.

Why do people use adages?

The main purpose of an adage is to convey handy nuggets of age-old wisdom. Adages are distinct from proverbs in adages are not necessarily put forward as advice, although they are often taken as advice in many different contexts.

Fiction authors often use adages in dialogue or as a narrator, relaying a protagonist’s thoughts, and their decision-making.

Final word

So, to sum up, an adage is a (usually) well known saying that conveys wisdom and commonly accepted truths. These pearls of wisdom are not necessarily intended as advice, though they often are. Those would be considered proverbs.

Adages are popular in many cultures for their effective impact in imparting and sustaining commonly perceived truths as a guide to encourage optimum behaviour or attitudes.

Adages are often easily mistaken for other figures of speech, but if you were to bookmark this page, you’ll have a convenient resource to reference to help you to distinguish adages from other figures of speech. You can also check out our article 47 common adages.