Richard Greene started writing aphorisms after noticing that a line in one of his poems read like an aphorism — a self-contained gnomic utterance. (For a consideration of poems as aphorisms, see my discussion with Neil Denny of Emily Dickinson, Dorothy Parker, and Samuel Hoffenstein on the Little Atoms (24:15-26-35) podcast.) “Aphorisms appealed to me because, like poetry, slogans and rhetoric, [they have] an emotional resonance that other prose has more rarely or in an attenuated form … Aphorisms frequently exaggerate, stating as universal truths that are only conditional … That doesn’t detract from their wisdom. Hyperbole contributes to their rhetorical impact.” Richard self-published his aphorisms as A Curmudgeon’s Guide to Post-Modern Times: Aphorisms. Herewith a selection of Richard Greene’s curmudgeonly guidance…

The truly strong are those who aren’t driven by the need to prove their strength.

Mankind is an endangering species.

The main challenge to human welfare is human nature.

I don’t need to be reborn. I got it right the first time.

Sooner or later the cutting edge becomes dull.

Poetry is the art of the implied.

In poetry it’s the difference between synonyms that counts.