--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: An aphorism should be like a burr: sting…" description: "\"An aphorism should be like a burr: sting, ... and leave a little soreness.\" — Irving Layton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac6/irving-layton-22742_aphorism_an-aphorism-should-be-like-a-burr-sting_1346699.jpg" --- # An aphorism should be like a burr: sting, ... and leave a… ![“An aphorism should be like a burr: sting, ... and leave a little soreness.” quote by Irving Layton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac6/irving-layton-22742_aphorism_an-aphorism-should-be-like-a-burr-sting_1346699.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac6/irving-layton-22742_aphorism_an-aphorism-should-be-like-a-burr-sting_1346699.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac6/irving-layton-22742_aphorism_an-aphorism-should-be-like-a-burr-sting_1346699.jpg) > “An aphorism should be like a burr: sting, ... and leave a little soreness.” [Irving Layton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-layton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A sharp, lingering reminder should be brief yet impactful, leaving a subtle after‑effect. **In simple terms:** A good aphorism should sting and leave a little soreness. Key Takeaway Craft memorable, thought‑provoking statements. Themes wisdom impact brevity Mood sharp reflective Type literary motivational When to use this quote - public speaking - writing workshops - advertising - teaching Key Concepts literature psychology communication Questions to Reflect On - How to balance sting with kindness? - When is a lasting impression appropriate? A Different Perspective Too much sting can alienate the audience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aphorism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aphorism/) [Burrs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/burrs/) [Soreness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soreness/) ## Related quotes > [“The quoting of an aphorism, like the angry barking of a dog or the smell of overcooked broccoli, rarely indicates that something helpful is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lemony-snicket/the-quoting-of-an-aphorism-like-the-angry-barking-of-a-dog-or-the-2/) [Lemony Snicket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lemony-snicket/) > [The quoting of an aphorism, like the angry barking of a dog or the smell of overcooked broccoli, rarely indicates that something helpful is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-quoting-of-an-aphorism-like-the-angry-barking-of-a-dog-or-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Soreness is not something you should always look for. It's good once in a while: it means you are pushing back on plateaus. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-kaiser/soreness-is-not-something-you-should-always-look-for-it-s-good-once/) [Anna Kaiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-kaiser/) > [ A remedy \[for masturbation\] which is almost always successful in small boys is circumcision, especially when there is any degree of phimosis. The operation… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-harvey-kellogg/a-remedy-for-masturbation-which-is-almost-always-successful-in-small/) [John Harvey Kellogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-harvey-kellogg/) > [“It is amazing how out of shape some muscles can be despite our other, general physical activity. Getting sore does not mean you hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-p-ordway/it-is-amazing-how-out-of-shape-some-muscles-can-be-despite-our-other/) [D.P. 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I have total movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-clemens/the-soreness-i-have-is-expected-i-have-total-movement/) [Roger Clemens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-clemens/) > [I find along with many virtues in my countrymen there is a jealousy, a soreness, and readiness to take offence, as if they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/i-find-along-with-many-virtues-in-my-countrymen-there-is-a-jealousy-a/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [Remember that any time you're filled with resentment, you're turning the controls of your emotional life over to others to manipulate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/remember-that-any-time-you-re-filled-with-resentment-you-re-turning/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [The best tonic for soreness is to do the movement that got you sore in the first place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-john/the-best-tonic-for-soreness-is-to-do-the-movement-that-got-you-sore/) [Dan John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-john/) > [A man's free will cannot cure him even of the toothache, or a sore finger; and yet he madly thinks it is in its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustus-toplady/a-man-s-free-will-cannot-cure-him-even-of-the-toothache-or-a-sore/) [Augustus Toplady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustus-toplady/) > [Men of the most robust make, observe that in looking upon sore eyes they often feel a very sensible soreness in their own, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/men-of-the-most-robust-make-observe-that-in-looking-upon-sore-eyes/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [“Every once in a while, sudden soreness triggered a twinge of discomfort and shame. Whoever said the soul and the body met in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-aciman/every-once-in-a-while-sudden-soreness-triggered-a-twinge-of/) [André Aciman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-aciman/) > [I used to not really like going to the gym when I was playing tournaments because I'd be sore and stiff. But the more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-mcilroy/i-used-to-not-really-like-going-to-the-gym-when-i-was-playing/) [Rory McIlroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-mcilroy/) > [I've felt it (shoulder soreness) since the first day I came, but more so now. Yesterday in the doubles I felt like I couldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marat-safin/i-ve-felt-it-shoulder-soreness-since-the-first-day-i-came-but-more-so/) [Marat Safin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marat-safin/) ## More by Irving Layton > [By walking, I found out where I was going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-layton/by-walking-i-found-out-where-i-was-going/) [Irving Layton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-layton/) > [Time flames like a paraffin stove / and what burns are the minutes I live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-layton/time-flames-like-a-paraffin-stove-and-what-burns-are-the-minutes-i/) [Irving Layton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-layton/) > [Progress of a marriage: There was a time when you couldn't make me happy. Now the time has come when you can make me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-layton/progress-of-a-marriage-there-was-a-time-when-you-couldn-t-make-me/) [Irving Layton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-layton/) > [Conscience: self-esteem with a halo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-layton/conscience-self-esteem-with-a-halo/) [Irving Layton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-layton/) > [It amazes me that organs that piss Can give human beings such perfect bliss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-layton/it-amazes-me-that-organs-that-piss-can-give-human-beings-such-perfect/) [Irving Layton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-layton/) > [I have stopped being a misanthrope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-layton/i-have-stopped-being-a-misanthrope/) [Irving Layton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-layton/) > [My neighbor doesn't want to be loved as much as he wants to be envied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-layton/my-neighbor-doesn-t-want-to-be-loved-as-much-as-he-wants-to-be-envied/) [Irving Layton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-layton/) > [Since I no longer expect anything from mankind except madness, meanness, and mendacity; egotism, cowardice, and self-delusion, I have stopped being a misanthrope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-layton/since-i-no-longer-expect-anything-from-mankind-except-madness/) [Irving Layton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-layton/) > [And me happiest when I compose poems: Love, power, the huzza of battle are something, are much: yet a poem includes them like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-layton/and-me-happiest-when-i-compose-poems-love-power-the-huzza-of-battle/) [Irving Layton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-layton/) > [A political leader worthy of assassination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-layton/a-political-leader-worthy-of-assassination/) [Irving Layton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-layton/) > [Only the tiniest fracton of mankind want freedom. All the rest want someone to tell them theyare free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-layton/only-the-tiniest-fracton-of-mankind-want-freedom-all-the-rest-want/) [Irving Layton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-layton/) > [We love in another's soul whatever of ourselves we can deposit in it; the greater the deposit, the greater the love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-layton/we-love-in-another-s-soul-whatever-of-ourselves-we-can-deposit-in-it/) [Irving Layton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-layton/) > [Idealist: a cynic in the making.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-layton/idealist-a-cynic-in-the-making/) [Irving Layton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-layton/) > [It amazes me that organs thatpiss Can give human beings such perfect bliss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-layton/it-amazes-me-that-organs-thatpiss-can-give-human-beings-such-perfect/) [Irving Layton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-layton/) > [Whom the gods do not intend to destroy, they first make mad with poetry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-layton/whom-the-gods-do-not-intend-to-destroy-they-first-make-mad-with-poetry/) [Irving Layton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-layton/) [Explore all 27 Irving Layton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-layton/) ## More Aphorism quotes > [“Who flies high, easily chooses his target.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ljupka-cvetanova/who-flies-high-easily-chooses-his-target/) [Ljupka Cvetanova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ljupka-cvetanova/) > [“For their never-ending endeavours to obtain or retain wealth, countries desperately need companies, because they—unlike most human beings—have the means of production, and human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/for-their-never-ending-endeavours-to-obtain-or-retain-wealth/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“Listen! The court jester's cap and bells. The King is coming!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ljupka-cvetanova/listen-the-court-jester-s-cap-and-bells-the-king-is-coming/) [Ljupka Cvetanova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ljupka-cvetanova/) > [“An expensive coffin does not decrease the deceased’s chances of going to hell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/an-expensive-coffin-does-not-decrease-the-deceased-s-chances-of-going/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“The eleventh commandment of art: thou shalt not be boring.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-m-driscoll/the-eleventh-commandment-of-art-thou-shalt-not-be-boring/) [W.M. 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I had a great director.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ljupka-cvetanova/i-played-the-best-role-in-my-life-i-had-a-great-director/) [Ljupka Cvetanova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ljupka-cvetanova/) > [“Be ware! Santa Claus is a fake profile.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ljupka-cvetanova/be-ware-santa-claus-is-a-fake-profile/) [Ljupka Cvetanova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ljupka-cvetanova/) > [“He who lies and steals ...and forms a government.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ljupka-cvetanova/he-who-lies-and-steals-and-forms-a-government/) [Ljupka Cvetanova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ljupka-cvetanova/) > [“I got married. A bright past is ahead of me!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ljupka-cvetanova/i-got-married-a-bright-past-is-ahead-of-me/) [ljupka Cvetanova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ljupka-cvetanova/) > [“People who smile while they are alone used to be called insane, until we invented smartphones and social media.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/people-who-smile-while-they-are-alone-used-to-be-called-insane-until/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“Why must an aphorism be brief? 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