1st International Aphorism Conference
Magnum In Parvo

October 24 - 25, 2025

University of Wrocław, Insititure of German Philology


About the Event

Humboldt Kolleg

1st International Aphorism Conference in Wrocław
Magnum In Parvo

is a unique event! Outstanding creators of aphorisms and leading researchers of short literary forms from around the world will meet for the first time. Speakers from several countries, including: Poland, USA, Germany, Italy, Serbia, Croatia, Israel, Canada, Finland, North Macedonia, Romania and Bulgaria will share their knowledge and passion.

The originator, initiator and Chairman of the Conference Chapter is Andrzej Majewski - a Polish writer.

We invite you to two days full of inspiring lectures, concerts and shows of almost five hundred-year-old old prints of the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius and the Aphorisms of Hippocrates. This is a celebration of aphorism that cannot be missed!

Event Schedule

October 24, 2025
Friday
October 25, 2025
Saturday
9.00

Welcome of the conference participants by the Director of the Institute, Prof. Tomasz Małyszek

9.10

Guest lecture opening the conference

Prof. James Geary,
“A Defense of Aphorisms“ (Eine Verteidigung der Aphorismen), Harvard University, USA
10.00

Andrzej Majewski,
“Hippocrates and Marcus Aurelius: Milestones of European Aphorism Literature” - Introduction to the Presentation of Unique Old Prints, Author, University of Wrocław
- “Meditations” by Marcus Aurelius, Venice 1543
- “Aphorisms” by Hippocrates, Amsterdam 1685
10.20

Presentation of Old Prints, break Coffee

11.00

Concert in the Gothic Church of St. Vincent adjacent to the Institute

12.10pm-12.40pm

Prof. Rainer Adolphi
"The Time of Aphorism. Textual Form in Crisis Times," Technical University of Berlin

12.40pm-1.00pm

Prof. Tomasz Małyszek
"Aphoristic Definitions of Franz Kafka", University of Wrocław

1:00pm-1:20pm

Prof. Anna Małgorzewicz
Aphorisms in the Transcendental Dimension of Translation Communication, University of Wrocław

1:20pm-1:40pm

Dr. hab. Jacek Grębowiec
"Short Forms in European Urban Spaces Through the Eyes of a Linguist, Traveler, and Flâneur," University of Wrocław

1:40pm

Lunch Break

2:30pm-3:00pm

Dr. Ewa Wojno-Owczarska
Scholarship Programs of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, University of Warsaw, Secretary General of the Societas Humboldtiana Polonorum

3.00pm-3.20pm

Prof. Maria Endreva
Aphorism and Fragment in the Theoretical Thinking of German Romanticism as Exemplified by Friedrich Schlegel and Rahel Varnhagen, Sofia University, Bulgaria

3.20pm-3.40pm

Prof. Maria Tarnogórska
"Born Quotes. Wisława Szymborska as an Aphorist", University of Wrocław

3:40pm-4:00pm

Urszula Zybura, poet
"Aphorisms of Women Aphorists. Does an Aphorism Have a Woman's Soul?" Kalisz, Poland

4:00pm-4:30pm

Coffee Break

4:30pm-4:50pm

Prof. Ewa Matkowska
"Ekphrasis as a Carrier of Aesthetic Values ​​at the End of the 20th Century", University of Wrocław

4.50pm-5.10pm

Krzysztof Bilica, Writer
"Art-chain (chain of arts) – the idea and examples. Presentation of art built on aphorisms" Wrocław

5.10pm-5.30pm

Fabrizio Caramagna, Writer
"The Connection of Aphorism and Poetry", Turin, Italy

5:30pm-5:50pm

Utz Rachowski, writer
"Keep it short, because life is like that. Short Forms," ​​Berlin and Reichenbach im Vogtland

6:00pm

Dinner

8.40-9.00

Wojciech Wiercioch, Writer
"Aphorists and Anthologists, Self-Promotion and the Promotion and Reception of Short Literary Forms," ​​Kraków

9.00-9.20

Yahia Lababidi
Lecture by the writer and aphorist, broadcast from the USA

9.20-9.40

Prof. Wojciech Kunicki
"Antoine de Rivarol and His Reception in Ernst Jünger, Carl Schmitt, and Carl Eugen Gass", University of Wrocław

9.40-10.00

Prof. Dorota Heck
"Aphorisms Hidden in Critical and Philosophical Essays. Case Studies of Andrzej Kijowski and Leszek Kołakowski," University of Wrocław

10.00-10.20

Valeriu Butulescu
"Aphorism – Present and Future", Romania

10.20-10.50

Coffee Break

10.50-11.10

Prof. Luiza Rzymowska
"The Use of Sentences in Oratory Work - Based on the Example of Polish Speeches", University of Wrocław

11.10-11.30

Prof. Paweł Bąk
"The Conciseness and Precision of Aphorisms from a Linguistic and Translational Perspective", University of Rzeszów

11.30-11.50

Prof. Janne Tompuri
“How Do Aphorisms Relate to Truth?”, University of Helsinki, Finland

11:50-12:10

Marina Aristo Markovic
author, “Aphorisms as a Literary Form,” Belgrade, Serbia

12:10pm-1:00pm

Lunch Break

1:00pm-1:20pm

Stefan Markowski
author, “The Role of Language and Rhetoric in Perception and Modeling Behavior,” North Macedonia

1:20pm-1:40pm

Dr. Marcin Miodek
"Short Literary Forms in the Propaganda of the 1940s in the Lower Silesian Press", University of Wrocław

1:40pm-2:00pm

Dr. Natalia Żarska
"Romantic Encyclopedics and New Mythology in the Medium of Novalis' Fragment", University of Wrocław

2:00pm-2:20pm

Dr. Krzysztof Żarski
"Fragmentarity in the Work of Zygmunt Łempicki in the Tradition of Romanticism", University of Wrocław
Papers by Young Researchers Moderated by Dr. Ewa Wojno-Owczarska, University of Warsaw

2.30pm-2.45pm

Katarzyna Luba
“Wisdom Across Cultures
A Comparative Study of English and Hindi Aphorisms”, University of Wrocław

2.45pm-3.00pm

Mateusz Kossakowski
"Five cents, please"
aphorism as an economic speech act and a parody of capitalist rationality in Charles M. Schulz's Peanuts, University of Warmia and Mazury

3.00pm-3.15pm

Natalia Kozłowska
"Was Leopold Staff an aphorist? ", University of Warmia and Mazury Olsztyn

3.15pm-3.30pm

Marcin Janiszkiewicz
"The aphoristic dimension of Andrzej Garczarek's songs", University of Wroclaw

3.30pm-3.45pm

Frederick Abrams, writer
“How aphorisms played a key role in the reshaping and revolutionizing of popular music, as a powerful means of messaging during the counter culture era of the late 1960s and '70s”, USA

3.45pm-4.00pm

George Murray, poet, "Between Poetry and Aphorism
Leonard Cohen", St. John’s Newfoundland Canada

4:00pm-4:15pm

Jakub Horbacz
“Zbigniew Herbert and the Aphoristic Tradition in the Context of Mediterranean Sentences”, University of Wrocław

4:15pm-4:30pm

Julianna Redlich
“Poetry and Aphorisms. Goethe's Carpet of the West and the East” University of Wrocław

4:30pm-4:45pm

Natalia Sauer
"Aphorisms and maxims in contemporary medical literature" University of Wrocław

4:45pm-5:00pm

Grzegorz Dziwer
Topic under discussion, University of Wrocław

5:00pm-6:00pm

Coffee break
at the Kwiaty Kawy i Inne Café, Plac Kościuszki 12

6:00pm-8:00pm

Aphoristic evening
at the Music and Literature Club, Plac Kościuszki Kosciuszki 10

6:00pm-7:00pm

Yarona Caspi, singer
"Wisdom Literature in the Israeli Tradition", Israel, Paper and mini recital
Awarding ceremony in the International Limerick Competition,
Jury chairman: Prof. Jan Miodek,
jury: Urszula Zybura and Andrzej Majewski

7:00pm

Barbara John's Vernissage
"Aphorisms. Small Painting Forms"

8:15pm

Dinner
at the John Paul II Hotel on Ostrów Tumski

During the segment of plenary lectures the following prelections will be held:

  • Prof. James Geary, USA Harvard University – A Defense of Aphorisms
  • Andrzej Majewski, writer, aphorist, Poland: „Hipokrates i Marek Aureliusz: kamienie milowe europejskiej aforystyki” - Wprowadzenie do prezentacji unikatowych starodruków, Autor, Uniwersytet Wrocławski
    „Rozmyślania“ Marka Aureliusza, Wenecja 1543
    „Aforyzmy“ Hipokratesa, Amsterdam 1685
  • Rainer Adolphi, Technische Universität Berlin: “Die Zeit des Aphorismus. Eine Textform in Zeiten der Krise” (The
    Time of Aphorism. A Text Form in Times of Crisis)
  • Fabrizio Caramagna, writer, Italy, Università degli Studi di Torino. “Relazione tra aforisma e poesia” (Relation
    between Aphorism and Poetry)
  • Aleksandar Cotric, writer, Serbia – title to be determined
  • Yahia Lababidi, writer, USA – title to be determined
  • Jurgen Wilbert, Friedemann Spicker: co-founder and President of the German Aphorism Archive (DAphA)
    (https://www.fspicker.de/dapha/): “Zeitgenössischer deutscher Aphorismus” (Contemporary German Aphorism)
  • Mikhail Kuzmin, writer – On Some Trends in Aphorisms at the End of the 20th and Beginning of the 21st Century
  • Wojciech Kunicki, University of Wrocław: “Antoine de Rivarol und seine Rezeption bei Ernst Jünger, Carl Schmitt
    und Carl Eugen Gass” (Antoine de Rivarol and His Reception by Ernst Jünger, Carl Schmitt, and Carl Eugen Gass)
  • Stefan Markowski, writer, North Macedonia – The Role of Language and Rhetoric
    in Literature, Marketing Campaigns, and Aphorisms in Shaping Perceptions and Behaviors.
  • Marina Aristo Markovic, writer, Serbia – “Aforizam kao književna forma” (Aphorisms as a Literary Form)
  • Ewa Matkowska, University of Wrocław: “Ekphrasis als Träger ästhetischer Inhalte am Ende des 20. Jahrhunderts”
    (Ekphrasis as a Carrier of Aesthetic Content at the End of the 20th Century)
  • Tomasz Małyszek, University of Wrocław: “Aforystyczne definicje Franza Kafki” (Aphoristic Definitions of Franz
    Kafka)
  • Marcin Miodek, University of Wrocław: “Krótkie formy literackie w propagandzie lat 40. XX w. na łamach prasy
    dolnośląskiej” (Short Literary Forms in the Propaganda of the 1940s in the Lower Silesian Press)
  • Valeriu Butulescu, writer, Romania – "Aphorism – Present and Future"
  • Janne Tompuri, writer, University of Helsinki, Secretary of the Finnish Aphorism Society: “Aphoristic
    Incompleteness – Truth and Knowledge in Aphorisms”
  • Paweł Bąk, University of Wrocław: “Kürze und Prägnanz des Aphorismus aus linguistischer und translatorischer
    Sicht” (Brevity and Conciseness of Aphorisms from a Linguistic and Translational Perspective)
  • Krzysztof Bilica, writer, musicologist, Poland – title to be determined
  • Maria Tarnogórska, University of Wrocław: “Born Quotes. Wisława Szymborska as an Aphorist”
  • Utz Rachowski, German writer: “Fasse Dich kurz! Denn das Leben ist es” (Be Brief! Because That is Life) –
    presentation of prose fragments
  • Luiza Rzymowska, University of Wrocław: “The Use of Sentences in Oratory – on the Example of Polish Speeches”
  • Urszula Zybura, poet, aphorist, Poland: „If aphoristic is a woman?”
  • Maria Endreva, Sofia University, Dep. of German and Scandinavian Studies, Bułgaria – „Der
    Aphorismus und das Fragment im theoretischen Denken der deutschen Romantik am Beispiel
    von Friedrich Schlegel und Rahel Varnhagen” (Aphorism and fragment in theoretical considerations
    German romanticism on the example of Friedrich Schlegel and Rahel Varnhagen)
  • Dorota Heck, University of Wrocław: Aphorisms Hidden in Critical and Philosophical Essays.
    Case Studies of Andrzej Kijowski and Leszek Kołakowski
  • Wojciech Wiercioch, writer, „Aforyści i antologiści, autopromocja i promocja oraz recepcja małych form literackich“, Kraków

Additionally, as part of the conference, the following event will take place:

Scientific Sessions:

  • Historical-Theoretical Session
  • Translational Session
  • Practical Session (authors’ presentations)
  • Young Researchers Session

Accompanying Events:

  • Literary Evening with Authors – conference dinner
  • A literary competition for aphorism and limerick.
    The chairman of the jury is Professor Jan Miodek.
  • Chamber Music Concert
  • Presentation of Old Prints:
    o “Aphorisms of Hippocrates” from 1685, Amsterdam
    o “Meditations of Marcus Aurelius” from 1543, Venice

A detailed schedule of all events and lectures will be specified at a later date.

Organisers

Societas Humboldtiana Polonorum Oddział Wrocław
Instytut Filologii Germańskiej Uniwersytet Wrocławski

Partners:
  • Institute of German Philology, University of Wrocław
  • Die Deutsch-Polnische Gesellschaft der Universität Wrocław
  • Institute of Slavic Philology, University of Potsdam
  • Societas Humboldtiana Polonorum
Organising Comittee:
  • Andrzej Majewski (Wrocław), Chair
  • Prof. Ewa Matkowska (Wrocław), University of Wrocław
  • Prof. Mirosław Miller (Wrocław), Central Board of SHP Wrocław
  • Dr. Marcin Miodek (Wrocław), University of Wrocław
  • Andrzej Ociepa (Wrocław), long-time Director of the Public Library in Wrocław
Scientific Committee:
  • Prof. Wojciech Kunicki (Wrocław), Chair
  • Dr. Jörg Bernig (Radebeul/Dresden), German poet and essayist
  • Dr. hab. Ewa Matkowska, Prof. UWr (Wrocław)
  • Utz Rachowski (Plauen/Vogtland), German writer
  • Dr. hab. Luiza Rzymowska (Wrocław)
  • Dr. Friedemann Spicker (Konigswinter), co-founder and Vice-President of the German Aphorism Archive (DAphA)
    (https://www.fspicker.de/dapha/)
  • Jurgen Wilbert (Hattingen), German aphorist
  • Dr. Ewa Wojno-Owczarska (Warsaw)
Patronage:
Donors:

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