The aphorisms that are guiding us through 2025 may come from unexpected places. For decades, these pithy sayings have been passed down as timeless wisdom, often penned by philosophers, poets, or cultural icons of the past. However, with the rise of social media and modern communication, a new breed of aphorisms has emerged – ones that speak directly to our digital lives.
One such phrase is "I shop therefore I am," coined by Barbara Kruger in 1987. The artist and designer's work challenges traditional notions of advertising by overlaying bold words onto black-and-white images. This particular aphorism feels as relevant today as it did decades ago, particularly when we consider the impact of social media on our self-perception.
Another modern aphorism that stands out is "Adults think with their mouths open." At first glance, this phrase appears to be about a physical phenomenon – someone's mouth being agape. However, Geary notes that it also speaks to the human tendency to speak before thinking, especially in the era of social media.
The writer James Baldwin penned this phrase much earlier, in 1972: "Ignorance, allied with power, is the most ferocious enemy justice can have." While not necessarily modern, its significance has only grown more pressing in recent years. With expertise and knowledge under assault worldwide, the importance of critical thinking cannot be overstated.
Aphorism number four is one from Sarah Manguso's 2017 book: "The trouble with setting goals is that you're constantly working toward what you used to want." This line might seem counterintuitive, but Geary sees it as a commentary on our culture's obsession with achievement. By embracing this idea, we can reframe our thinking around progress and failure.
Lastly, there's an aphorism from Kara Walker's Fortuna and the Immortality Garden (Machine), a 7ft-tall animatronic figure that dispenses fortunes to museum visitors. The phrase reads: "Life is the abyss into which we deliberately and joyfully thrust ourselves." Geary views this as a testament to the power of creativity, emphasizing that our individuality is crucial in navigating uncertainty.
While these aphorisms are often crafted by individuals with expertise in writing or art, Geary believes that relying on AI-generated ideas can undermine human wisdom. "That defeats the whole purpose of having a brain, being an individual and living your own life," he says, advocating for us to write our own aphorisms – not just as a way to express ourselves but also to challenge our thinking.
One such phrase is "I shop therefore I am," coined by Barbara Kruger in 1987. The artist and designer's work challenges traditional notions of advertising by overlaying bold words onto black-and-white images. This particular aphorism feels as relevant today as it did decades ago, particularly when we consider the impact of social media on our self-perception.
Another modern aphorism that stands out is "Adults think with their mouths open." At first glance, this phrase appears to be about a physical phenomenon – someone's mouth being agape. However, Geary notes that it also speaks to the human tendency to speak before thinking, especially in the era of social media.
The writer James Baldwin penned this phrase much earlier, in 1972: "Ignorance, allied with power, is the most ferocious enemy justice can have." While not necessarily modern, its significance has only grown more pressing in recent years. With expertise and knowledge under assault worldwide, the importance of critical thinking cannot be overstated.
Aphorism number four is one from Sarah Manguso's 2017 book: "The trouble with setting goals is that you're constantly working toward what you used to want." This line might seem counterintuitive, but Geary sees it as a commentary on our culture's obsession with achievement. By embracing this idea, we can reframe our thinking around progress and failure.
Lastly, there's an aphorism from Kara Walker's Fortuna and the Immortality Garden (Machine), a 7ft-tall animatronic figure that dispenses fortunes to museum visitors. The phrase reads: "Life is the abyss into which we deliberately and joyfully thrust ourselves." Geary views this as a testament to the power of creativity, emphasizing that our individuality is crucial in navigating uncertainty.
While these aphorisms are often crafted by individuals with expertise in writing or art, Geary believes that relying on AI-generated ideas can undermine human wisdom. "That defeats the whole purpose of having a brain, being an individual and living your own life," he says, advocating for us to write our own aphorisms – not just as a way to express ourselves but also to challenge our thinking.
! Like "Adults think with their mouths open" - who wouldve thought that just talking about something without thinking thru the implications can cause more problems? 
Its like, chill for a sec and really consider what you wanna say before sharing it on social media 
. And i gotta agree w/ Kara Walkers aphorism, "Life is the abyss into which we deliberately and joyfully thrust ourselves" - thats so true! We should focus on being our own selves and finding happiness in uncertainty 
! 
They're like reflections of our digital lives 
and how we communicate with each other 
. "I shop therefore I am" is so true shopping can be a way to express ourselves online 
but also affect our self-perception 
. And "Adults think with their mouths open" is hilarious 
because who hasn't done that before?! 
. Like, we're so focused on achievement 
but sometimes it's okay to just be 
. And I love how Kara Walker's aphorism emphasizes individuality and creativity 
. We need more of that in our lives 
.
. Like, isn't the point of having a brain that it can come up with new ideas? 
?
, I mean, who thought it'd be a good idea to share every single thought and emotion with the world? It's like, "I shop therefore I am"... basically just saying we're all online consumers now 
I mean, I'm all for being creative and expressing ourselves online, but shouldn't we be trying to figure some stuff out on our own? 
.
.
. Like, have you ever scrolled through Instagram and felt like you're comparing your life to everyone else's highlight reel? 
. I mean, who hasn't gotten caught up in a Twitter thread and just went "heyyyyyy..." without even stopping to think? 
. Like, I was reading about these old phrases and how they're still super relevant now, and it got me thinking - what's the point of having social media if we just end up comparing ourselves to others all day? It's like Barbara Kruger's "I shop therefore I am" stuff is still speaking truth today 
. Maybe it's time for us to create our own aphorisms and really think critically about the world around us...?
. It's like, we need to be brave enough to take risks and trust ourselves.
. We need to keep creating our own words, our own art, because that's where true individuality shines through 
. So let's keep spreading these aphorisms and inspiring each other to be our best selves! 
".
. Anyway, I think we can all learn from these aphorisms and try to be more mindful of how we express ourselves online... or maybe just take a deep breath and go with the flow 
. "Adults think with their mouths open" is so true about social media, and I feel like we're living it every time someone shares something without thinking it through first 
.
. It makes me think about how we often tie our self-worth to what we accomplish, but maybe that's not always the most fulfilling path? 
. I love how it highlights the importance of embracing individuality and finding joy in uncertainty.
& individuality 
? 