Agency Dictionary
Maxim
nounPronunciation: /ˈmæk.sɪm/
In Portuguese: Máxima
Writing & Narrative
Philosophy & EthicsWhat does “Maxim” mean?
A concise statement expressing a fundamental principle, general truth, or practical rule of conduct.
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman maxime and Middle French maxime, themselves from Late Latin maxima, short for maxima propositio (greatest proposition). Maxima is the feminine form of maximus (greatest, superlative of magnus, great). The word entered English in the 15th century as a term for a general principle or rule of conduct expressed concisely.
Synonyms
Word family
- maximum
- maximal
- maximize
Usage examples
Aphorisms tend to be maxims that carry moral truths or principles.
Writing.2 - Aphorisms It is a universal maxim because rules should be questioned and some lines should in fact be crossed, but some other lines, shouldn’t.
Concepts
- AphorismAn aphorism is a concise, memorable statement that expresses a general truth, ethical principle, or philosophical observation in very few words. Unlike casual sayings, it…
- Aphoristic StyleAphoristic style is a literary mode of writing composed of detached, numbered, or highly condensed statements that convey complex philosophical ideas with striking…
- Categorical ImperativeThe categorical imperative is the foundational concept of Immanuel Kant's deontological moral philosophy, commanding that one should act only according to maxims that…
- Is-Ought ProblemThe is-ought problem is an ethical and epistemological principle stating that one cannot logically deduce prescriptive moral obligations merely from descriptive factual…
- Star WarsStar Wars is the science fiction film saga created by George Lucas, begun in 1977. The Agency editorial quotes one of its best-known lines, spoken by the Jedi master…
- The Golden RuleThe Golden Rule is a foundational ethical principle of reciprocity stating that one should treat others as one would wish to be treated oneself. Found across major world…
Source editions
Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.
Words of the same theme
- Rebirthnoun
- A new beginning after a period of decline or destruction, used in mythology to describe the cyclical return to life after death. In Archetype.0, rebirth is the defining characteristic of both the Bennu and the Phoenix.
- Discursiveadjective
- Proceeding by reasoned argument or sequential exposition rather than by immediate visual intuition.
- Tangibleadjective
- Perceptible by the sense of touch or capable of being physically grasped and measured in concrete physical reality. It distinguishes concrete material products from virtual or intellectual entities.
- Holisticadjective
- Characterized by the comprehension of parts as intimately interconnected and explicable only in reference to the whole.
Also from these editions: terms
- Antithesisnoun
- A person, thing, or concept that represents the direct or exact opposite of another.
- paperweightnoun
- A small, heavy object placed on loose sheets of paper to prevent them from scattering or blowing away.
- quotationnoun
- A group of words taken verbatim from a published text or speech and repeated by another author.
- eppur si muoveother
- An Italian phrase meaning and yet it moves. It is used to affirm that a fact remains true no matter who denies it.
- omissionnoun
- The intentional or accidental act of leaving something out or excluding details from a statement or text.
- Treatisenoun
- A formal, systematic, and comprehensive written work dealing methodically with the principles and evidence of a particular philosophical, scientific, or technical subject.
- verbatimadjective
- In exactly the same words as the original, word for word. Said of a quotation or a transcription that changes nothing.
- clevernessnoun
- The mental quality of being quick-witted, agile, and ingenious in solving specific situational problems.
- rhetoricnoun
- The art of effective and persuasive speaking or writing, especially through strategic linguistic devices.
- literary devicenoun
- A technique that a writer uses to produce a particular effect or to convey meaning, such as metaphor, irony, repetition, quotation or aphorism.
- collective consciousnessnoun
- The set of beliefs, ideas and feelings shared by the members of a society, which exists beyond any single person. By extension, what a community knows and repeats in common.
- aestheticsnoun
- A set of principles concerned with the nature and appreciation of beauty, artistic taste, and style.
Also from these editions: concepts
- The Titanic TheoryThe Titanic Theory is a literary manifesto and philosophical framework for writers navigating an automated, post-literary era. It posits that writers must act as…
- CatharsisCatharsis is the psychological and emotional release experienced by individuals when engaging deeply with intense artistic or dramatic narratives. First formulated…
- Technical ImageA technical image is a visual representation produced through scientific or mechanical apparatuses such as photography, cinema, and digital screens. It reorganizes human…
- The Iceberg TheoryThe Iceberg Theory is a literary technique coined by Ernest Hemingway asserting that the deeper meaning of a story should not be visible on the surface. By deliberately…
- Philosophical WisdomPhilosophical wisdom is the integrated capacity to synthesize deep moral understanding, sound ethical judgment, and lived experience in navigation of human life. It…
- David HumeDavid Hume was a Scottish philosopher, historian and economist, widely regarded as one of the most important figures in Western philosophy. In Writing.2, the article…
- Post-Literary EraA post-literary era is a cultural epoch where linear alphabetic reading ceases to be the dominant medium for storing, transmitting, and processing human knowledge. It is…
- Show, Don't TellShow, don't tell is a classic creative writing maxim advising authors to convey characters, emotions, and settings through sensory action rather than direct exposition…
- State of NatureThe state of nature is a foundational philosophical concept used to hypothesize the human condition prior to the establishment of organized political societies, civil…
- SophismA sophism is a plausibly phrased argument or line of reasoning that appears logically valid on the surface but contains an underlying intentional fallacy meant to…