Apophthegm

(ăp'o-them), n. [Gr. ἀπόφθεγμα, thing uttered, esp. a concise, epigrammatic saying, from ἀποφθέγγεσθαι, to speak out, from ἀπό, from, and φθέγγεσθαι, to utter a sound; φθέγμα, saying, word.] A short, pithy, and instructive saying; a terse remark, conveying some important truth; a sententious precept or maxim. [Apothegm is now the prevalent spelling.] Walton.