A native of New York City, Richard Krause is the author of the collection of stories, Studies in Insignificance, and his writing has also appeared in a variety of U.S. literary magazines. He teaches English at Somerset Community College in Kentucky. His aphorisms often take the form of ‘proverbial play’; i.e. the core of the aphorism consists of a well-known proverbial saying or familiar expression, which the aphorism then tweaks through some ironic reversal or witty gloss. It’s a tough trick to pull off, since these types of sayings can easily seem contrived or merely apposite. Krause does it with panache. These aphorisms are published in
FragLit, the online journal dedicated to the fragment and all things brief, edited by Olivia Dresher.

Even if you seize the moment it will leave tooth marks on your neck while sleeping.

Nothing blows brilliance to the wind like caution.

If you ignore people enough they eventually go away, ignore yourself however and you will come back as one of them.

If you think people are out to get you, they already have.

Putting people in their place shows that you yourself have nowhere to go.

The faith you lose in people is almost enough to start a religion elsewhere.

When you are washed up you never realize the extent of shoreline you have to yourself.

To read more of Richard Krause’s aphorisms, click here.