Stylistic classification of the english vocabulary

с) Epigrams
An epigram is a stylistic device which is very close to a proverb. The difference between them lies in the fact that epigrams are created by individuals, famous writers, poets, scientists, philosophers whom we know, while pro­verbs are the coinage of the people. In other words, when using epigrams, we usually make a reference to its author.
Like proverbs epigrams are rhythmically arranged, sometimes rhymed and alliterated. Their aim is to convey some generalized idea in a laconic and expressive .form. Unlike proverbs, epigrams have a literary-bookish air that distinguishes them from proverbs. Brevity is the main quality of the epigram. A. Chekhov once said that brevity is the sister of talent.
Epigrams possess a great degree of independence and therefore, if taken out of the context, will retain the wholeness of the idea they express.
Epigrams are often confused with aphorisms. It is dif­ficult to draw a demarcation line between them. Real epig­rams are true to fact and that is why they win general recognition and acceptance. But there is no brevity in aphorisms. They are too long. The following sentence seems to meet all the necessary requirements of the epigram: "A thing of beauty is a joy forever". (Keats). It is brief, generalizing, witty.
Writers use epigrams to criticize their heros. Somer­set Maugham is fond of it and many of his novels and sto­ries abound in epigrams:

1. 
   He that bends shall be made straight.
   
2. 
   Failure is the foundation of success and success is the lurking place of failure.
   
3. 
   Mighty is he who conquers himself.
   

There are special dictionaries which are called "Dic­tionaries of Quotations". These in fact, are mostly dic­tionaries of epigrams. What is worth quoting must always contain generalizing quality and if comes from poetry will have metre and rhyme. That is why the works of Shakespeare, Pope, Byron and many other great English poets are said to be epigrammatic statements.
Proverbs and sayings are used as expressive means of the language while epigrams constitute the stylistic devi­ces. Epigrams are literary expressions while proverbs are utterance of the folk language.
Epigrams must meet all the necessary requirements of the proverbs: they must be brief, generalizing, witty. E.g.:
"A little learning is a dangerous thing". (A. Pope); A man's best friend is his own pond note". (Cronin); Fame is the thirst of youth".(Byron)
If one and the same epigram is often used it begins to lose its brightness, emotive charge and enters the system of proverbs and sayings. E.g.:
"To be or not to be". (W. Shakespeare); "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark" "Better late than never" (Shakespeare); "A sound mind in a sound body".
The epigram in fact is a syntactical whole, tho­ugh a syntactical whole need not necessarily be epigram­matic.
As is known, poetry is epigrammatic in essence. It al­ways strives for brevity of expression.
Epigrams form a certain type of convergence when they are used together with other expressive means and stylistic devices.
Simile - Errors, like straws, upon the surface flow. (J.Dryden)
Repetition - All for one, one for all. (A. Duma) Litotes - Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm. (W. Emerson)
Metaphor - Knowledge is a city, to the building of which every human being brought a stone. (W. Emerson)
Irony - A bank is a place where they lend you an umbrella in fair weather and ask for back when it begins to rain. (R. Frost)
Periphrasis - The black flower of civilized society, a prison. (N. Hawthorn)
Enumeration — Love and business and family and re­lations are art and patriotism are nothing but shadows of words when a man's starving. (CTHenry)