Any great truth can -- and eventually will -- be expressed as a cliche -- a cliche is a sure and certain way to dilute an idea. For instance, my grandmother used to say, 'The black cat is always the last one off the fence.' I have no idea what she meant, but at one time, it was undoubtedly true.
-- Solomon Short
Apparently Solomon Short was an author. My search for him was clouded by page after page of information dedicated the much more renowned, King Solomon.
I care not for Mr. Short's "for instance." I do care for the great truth he spoke in this.
If he is completely correct in saying this, this quote will eventually become cliche like all great truths. For now, it's solid and it brings a much greater respect to all the cliches out there.
Repetition and insincere or mocking usage lend to the antiquity of the truth.
My preferable "for instance" usually relates to the common salutation of "Dear..." at the beginning of letters. Now long ago when this custom was first birthed the composer of the letter actually meant that that someone was important to him/her and highly valued. Now it's just become cliche to all letters. You write a letter you put Dear Whoever at the top. Now it means nothing. It's just cliche.
My point, citizens, is when people use cliches, don't always write them off as meaningless and insincere. Maybe, they still mean what they used to mean to the deliverer.
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