adage – a wise saying; a traditional statement of truth

(Pronounced ad-ij)

Note: The difference between a proverb and an adage is that proverbs deal out advice while adages merely state accepted truths. 

To remember the definition of the word adage, use the following mnemonic:

She took a digital (adage) picture each time she came across something that reminds her of a wise saying. 

Note: For those who don't get it, this is, "The early bird catches the worm."

Examples of adage in a sentence

It reminded her of the adage, "A picture is worth a thousand words."

The old man only seemed to speak in adages.

While true, she could hardly see how the adage was relevant to the current situation.