An epigram is a brief, interesting, memorable, and sometimes surprising or satirical statement. Derived from the Greek: ἐπίγραμμα epigramma "inscription" from ἐπιγράφειν epigraphein "to write on, to inscribe", this literary device has been employed for over two millennia.The presence of wit or sarcasm tends to distinguish non-poetic epigrams from aphorisms and adages, which may lack them.