adage, saw, proverb; sentence, mot [Fr.], motto, word, byword, moral,
phylactery, protasis†.
axiom, theorem, scholium†, truism, postulate.
first principles, a priori fact, assumption (supposition) 514.
reflection &c (idea) 453; conclusion &c (judgment) 480; golden
rule &c (precept) 697; principle, principia [Lat.]; profession of faith
&c (belief) 484; settled principle, accepted principle, formula.
accepted fact.
received truth, wise maxim, sage maxim, received maxim, admitted
maxim, recognized maxim &c; true saying, common saying, hackneyed
saying, trite saying, commonplace saying &c
Adj. aphoristic, proverbial, phylacteric†; axiomatic, gnomic.
Adv. as the saying goes, as the saying is, as they say.