Apophthegm or Apothegm is an aphorism or maxim, especially one of the pithiest
kind. Boswell refers to Johnson's famous saying, 'Patriotism is the last refuge
of a scoundrel', as an apophthegm. A person who composes apophthegms is an
apophthegmatist.
Adjective: apophthegmatic or apothegmatic.