adage
What is Adage? Definition, Usage, and Literary Examples
Adage Definition
An adage (AD-ij) is a saying that communicates a truth. These sayings are usually very closely related to their respective local language and culture of origin, but they can still resonate across cultures. Some adages restate older sayings as a result, conveying the original in a way that better connects with the present moment or culture involved.
The term adage originates from the Latin adagium, which derives from the Latin word for “I say” or “saying.”
Examples of Adages
Here are a few examples of adages.
- “Don’t exchange gold for copper.” This means that you shouldn’t neglect steady relationships or situations in favor of uncertain ones.
- “Those who run with wolves will howl by the year.” This adage implies that you become those with whom you associate; the lesson there being that you should choose your acquaintances carefully.
- “Bad blood never dries.” This saying warns you to be wary of people who once wished you harm, as they may still do so.
Why Writers Use Adages
Writers tend to use adages to communicate a particular message to readers. Since adages can be understood by a wide audience, they are an effective tool for this. These sayings are also easy to memorize and can simply sum up the central idea of a story or text. The truth in these statements may also persuade the reader to accept authors’ messages, allowing authors to impact their readers more successfully.
Adage and Other Literary Devices
Adage vs. Proverb
The terms proverb and adage are often used interchangeably since they’re both derived from local language and popular culture. One difference is that proverbs aren’t typically associated with a particular author, whereas adages can and have appeared in literature. Overall, there’s a lot of overlap between the two.
Adage vs. Aphorism
Adages and aphorisms have similar functions, but the latter often uses humor and may have older origins. Some adages are aphorisms as well, but not all aphorisms are adages. At times, adages may even restate older aphorisms, such as “YOLO (You Only Live Once)” for the older “carpe diem.”
Adages Outside of Literature
In addition to making appearances in film and television, adages are important cultural indicators as well, providing insight on the culture’s values. For example, the African saying “It takes a village to raise a child” and the English saying “If you want a thing done well, do it yourself” express two opposing values: the significance of community vs. the effectiveness of individual work. Each saying indicates something about its culture of origin, with one valuing an individual, focused perspective and the other emphasizing the importance of team effort. As a result, reading up on a culture’s adages allows readers to learn what other cultures value.
Examples of Adages in Literature
1. William Shakespeare, As You Like It
Jacques’s monologue in As You Like It provides an example of an adage regarding human life:
All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players.
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages. [bold for emphasis]
The first two lines of this monologue are most often remembered from Shakespeare’s work, serving as an adage of sorts. These lines, as well as the rest of the quoted passage, emphasizes that life, from birth to death, is a series of inevitable roles each player must play.
2. Erasmus, Adagia
Erasmus’s text lists out a number of adages, such as the following:
There's many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip.
One swallow doesn't make a summer.
Necessity is the mother of invention.
These are but a few lesser-known adages listed in Erasmus’s text. The first adage indicates that even when a result seems certain, things may go awry. The second states that the occurrence of something doesn’t necessarily make it a pattern. And the final one emphasizes that the need for something is what causes the urge to create or achieve it.
Further Resources on Adages
K12 Reader has worksheets on adages and proverbs.
Book Units Teacher also provides printable and customizable worksheets on adages and proverbs.