APHORISM, n. Predigested wisdom. The flabby wine-skin of his brain Yields to some pathologic strain, And voids from its unstored abysm The driblet of an aphorism. "The Mad Philosopher," 1697 - Ambrose Bierce
The first thriller ever? It was probably one from 1697. It was called Little Red Riding Hood. - Ashwin Sanghi