Roget's Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases by Peter Mark Roget

496. Maxim — N. maxim, aphorism; apothegm, apophthegm†; dictum, saying,

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.