1 After reflecting on how I felt a year ago during the election itself and how I feel now, I do have to say that the old adage is true: governing is harder than campaigning.
2 An aphorism differs from an adage in that it is more philosophical or scientific.
3 Egypt's famous revolution of 2011 now faces profound challenges, but it did bring democratic institutions: two referendums, and three elections, all largely free and fair and, so the adage goes, all won by the Muslim Brotherhood and its Freedom and Justice Party (FJP).
4 Forget the old adage about non-stop bicycling; the growing Community badly needs a decade of constitutional calm.