What do you think?
Rate this book
The Penguin Dictionary of Epigrams
There you are, writing a letter or a speech, or even just arguing with your friends, when you think: there must be a succint way of putting this. Surely a single one-liner could do a better job than my own ill-chosen and long-winded words? Thankfully, we have the epigram - that handy, witty saying that closes arguments, sets people thinking and generally makes everyone else think you're much cleverer than you really are. The Penguin Dictionary of Epigrams is arranged thematically, covering everything from birth and death, knowledge and ignorance to marriage and divorce and madness and sanity.
Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
1 person is currently reading
36 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
April 5, 2014
I browse the reference section of my local bookstore looking for any books to assist with my writing goals. I found M. J. Cohen's The Penguin Dictionary of Epigrams (Penguin Books 2001) and stopped mid-stride, digging through my databanks for what-the-heck is an 'epigram'. I should know that, right? The back flap says it's 'a short, sharp saying in prose or verse, frequently characterized by acidity or acerbity and sometimes by wisdom'.
Well that sounds good. I love that sort of conversation, enjoy using just that sort of retort in my blogging, comments and my novels.
I bought it and spent the next couple hours perusing the book. It includes an alphabetized list of epigrams by topic and theme, relaying both the quote, who said it, and in some cases the circumstances. I jomped to a few of my favorites to see what was included. Under 'Excess':
* Though shalt not carry moderation to excess (Arthur Koestler)
Under 'Equality':
* Men are born equal. By the next day, they no longer are. (Jules Bernard)
Under Government:
* The only good government is a bad one in a Hell of a fright (Joyce Cary)
Under 'Heroes':
* Thoughts of heroes were as good as warming pans (George Meredith)
Under 'Knowledge':
* For knowledge itself is power (Francis Bacon)
Under 'Kings, Queens, and Leaders':
* The true leader is always led (C.G. Jung)
These are fine, but not what I was looking for. I wanted fireworks, gasps, profound brilliance from names I'd recognize. I moved to the Index where quotees were listed. These--to me--are better:
* Headmasters have powers at their disposal with which Prime Ministers have never yet been invested (Winston Churchill on Education)
* Every human being invariably exercises all the power of which it is capable (Thucydides on Power)
* Civilization has made the peasantry its pack animal. The bourgeoisie in the long run only changed the form of the pack (Trotsky on Civilization)
* It is possible to be a writer, but not to become one (Herman Hesse in Writing)
* Sin is God's private pasture; if you graze in its vicinity, you will run the risk of entering it (Mohammed)
What this told me about myself: I base wisdom heavily on who's saying it. I had difficulty recognizing the brilliance of the epigram when it came from individuals I wasn't familiar with, where the book turned into a page-turner when I discovered the index, allowing me to find people I knew and read their thoughts. As a result, this isn't a reference book I use much--though I thought I would like seeing how respected intellects synopsized emotions and events in their simplest form.
Well that sounds good. I love that sort of conversation, enjoy using just that sort of retort in my blogging, comments and my novels.
I bought it and spent the next couple hours perusing the book. It includes an alphabetized list of epigrams by topic and theme, relaying both the quote, who said it, and in some cases the circumstances. I jomped to a few of my favorites to see what was included. Under 'Excess':
* Though shalt not carry moderation to excess (Arthur Koestler)
Under 'Equality':
* Men are born equal. By the next day, they no longer are. (Jules Bernard)
Under Government:
* The only good government is a bad one in a Hell of a fright (Joyce Cary)
Under 'Heroes':
* Thoughts of heroes were as good as warming pans (George Meredith)
Under 'Knowledge':
* For knowledge itself is power (Francis Bacon)
Under 'Kings, Queens, and Leaders':
* The true leader is always led (C.G. Jung)
These are fine, but not what I was looking for. I wanted fireworks, gasps, profound brilliance from names I'd recognize. I moved to the Index where quotees were listed. These--to me--are better:
* Headmasters have powers at their disposal with which Prime Ministers have never yet been invested (Winston Churchill on Education)
* Every human being invariably exercises all the power of which it is capable (Thucydides on Power)
* Civilization has made the peasantry its pack animal. The bourgeoisie in the long run only changed the form of the pack (Trotsky on Civilization)
* It is possible to be a writer, but not to become one (Herman Hesse in Writing)
* Sin is God's private pasture; if you graze in its vicinity, you will run the risk of entering it (Mohammed)
What this told me about myself: I base wisdom heavily on who's saying it. I had difficulty recognizing the brilliance of the epigram when it came from individuals I wasn't familiar with, where the book turned into a page-turner when I discovered the index, allowing me to find people I knew and read their thoughts. As a result, this isn't a reference book I use much--though I thought I would like seeing how respected intellects synopsized emotions and events in their simplest form.
February 27, 2013
This book is quite good. I'm planning to read it every once in a while, when I'm bored.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews