Main content

Aphorisms: Sayings to Live By

Michael Rosen talks to James Geary about his lifetime obsession, the short, witty philosophical sayings known as aphorisms.

Michael Rosen talks to James Geary about his lifetime obsession, aphorisms. These short, witty philosophical sayings have been coined by everyone from Emily Dickinson and James Baldwin to Hallmark, and even Michael's mum.

Produced for 麻豆社 Audio Bristol by Sally Heaven, in partnership with the Open University.
Subscribe to the Word of Mouth podcast and never miss an episode: /sounds/brand/b006qtnz

Available now

28 minutes

Last on

Last Sunday 20:00

Featured

  • .

Broadcasts

  • Thu 29 Jan 2026 15:30
  • Last Sunday 20:00

Listen to Michael Rosen in conversation with The Open University

Hear Michael reveal his own language journey.

Idioms Quiz

Explore why languages have idioms with The Open University鈥檚 quiz.

Explore the OU鈥檚 Cultural Idioms Guide

Explore how some cultural idioms entered the English Language.

From blunk to brickfielder: our wonderful words for weather

From blunk to brickfielder: our wonderful words for weather

Exploring creative descriptions for wind, rainfall and sunny spells from around the world

Digital body language 鈥 how to communicate better online

Digital body language 鈥 how to communicate better online

We need to find new ways of talking to each other 鈥渧irtually鈥.

Coinages that changed the world 鈥 and some that tried to...

Coinages that changed the world 鈥 and some that tried to...

Exploring the hidden histories of obscure words, and common buzz phrases.

Ittibitium, borborygmus, and Ba humbugi 鈥 14 wonderful science words you鈥檝e never heard of

Ittibitium, borborygmus, and Ba humbugi 鈥 14 wonderful science words you鈥檝e never heard of

Michael Rosen puts the language of science under the microscope.

Download this programme

Subscribe to this programme or download individual episodes.

Keywords for Our Time

Series of programmes examining key phrases in public debate.

Smiley face: Seven things you didn't know about emoji

Some facts about emoji - possibly the world's first truly global form of communication.

The funny words that kids invent

Have a look at some of the fantastic words that children invent and reimagine.

Podcast