(n.) An elementary principle or maximum; a short, proverbial rule, in law, ethics, or metaphysics.

abridgment adage ana analects apothegm axiom bon mot boutade bright idea bright thought brilliant idea brocard byword catchword collected sayings conceit crack current saying dictate dictum distich epigram expression facetiae flash of wit flight of wit gibe gnome golden saying happy thought maxim moral mot motto nasty crack oracle persiflage phrase pithy saying play of wit pleasantry precept prescript proverb proverbial saying proverbs quip quips and cranks repartee retort riposte rule sally saw saying scintillation sentence sententious expression sloka smart crack smart saying snappy comeback stock saying stroke of wit sutra teaching text truism turn of thought verse wisdom wisdom literature wise saying wisecrack witticism word words of wisdom