Ifferisms: An Anthology of Aphorisms That Begin with the Word "IF" - Hardcover

Grothe, Mardy

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0061672300 ISBN 13: 9780061672309

Publisher: Collins Reference, 2009

Synopsis

Perfect for linguaphiles and lovers of quotes, Ifferisms is a lively compendium of wit, wisdom, and wordplay from Dr. Mardy Grothe, author of I Never Metaphor I Didn’t Like, Viva La Repartee, and Oxymoronica. A collection of aphorisms—pithy observations that communicate some kind of truth about the human experience—Ifferisms contains those that begin with “if.” From “If life hands you lemons, make lemonade” to “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” the sayings in Ifferisms demonstrate how hypothetical thinking helps people contemplate their lives.

About this title

From the Back Cover:

If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail.

If you do not tell the truth about yourself, you cannot tell it about other people.

If you can't be kind, at least be vague.

An aphorism is a pithy observation that attempts to communicate a truth about the human experience, often with a dash of wit. History's greatest thinkers and writers have viewed the aphorism as a potent tool, and it is remarkable how many of their most memorable observations have been introduced with the biggest little word in the human language: If. These ifferisms, as they have been dubbed by quotation anthologist Dr. Mardy Grothe, demonstrate the powerful role that hypothetical and conditional thinking play in our lives.

This novel compendium of wisdom, wit, and wordplay presents nearly two thousand quotations that all begin with the word if. Alongside history's most famous sayings, readers will find—and often learn the fascinating story behind—such modern classics as "If you build it, they will come" and "If anything can go wrong, it will." In chapters on sex, love, sports, politics, advice, gender dynamics, and more, quotation lovers will savor scintillating observations from the usual suspects—Twain, Wilde, Shaw, Emerson, and Franklin—as well as scores of contemporary wits and wordsmiths.

About the Author:

Dr. Mardy Grothe is a retired psychologist, management consultant, and platform speaker, author of six "word and language" books, and creator of Dr. Mardy's Dictionary of Metaphorical Quotations, the world's largest online database of metaphorical quotations. Dr. Mardy—as he is known to his many fans around the globe—is one of America's most beloved quotation anthologists.

About this edition

• Publisher: Collins Reference
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 0061672300
• ISBN 13: 9780061672309
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 336