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Guide · Agent skill

How to use the Aphorisms Quote Bank agent skill

Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data

Aphorisms is an agent skill that gives an AI agent a curated collection of quotes, each with its author, theme tags and source context. It is aimed at newsletter writers, writers and speakers building a themed quote bank, and students collecting attributed quotes. After this guide you will know what the skill does, how to install it, how to phrase requests so it triggers, and what it needs to run.

Aphorisms Quote Bankdanielmiessler/LifeOS · MIT

Quick start

  1. 1Download the ZIP. Get the Aphorisms ZIP from this skill's page on the directory.
  2. 2Unzip into a skills folder. Place the Aphorisms folder in ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use, or in a project's .claude/skills/ folder.
  3. 3Or upload in the Claude apps. In the Claude apps, go to Settings → Capabilities → Skills and upload the skill.
  4. 4Check the requirements. Install the Bun runtime and confirm your LifeOS config layout is present, since the script imports LIFEOS/TOOLS/Paths.ts.
  5. 5Ask for a quote. Describe the topic or edition in plain language, such as a quote for a newsletter about setbacks.
  6. 6Review the attribution. Check each returned quote's author and source yourself before publishing.

What is an agent skill, and what does Aphorisms do?

An agent skill is a folder of instructions and optional scripts that an AI agent loads when your request matches the skill's description. Aphorisms works this way: once installed, the agent keeps a collection of aphorisms and quotes and uses it when you ask for one.

When you ask for a quote, the agent matches candidates to your topic, avoids quotes it has already recorded as used, and checks attribution. Uncertain authors are marked Unknown or Disputed rather than asserted. The skill can also add new quotes, search the collection by keyword, and research what a given thinker has said.

  • Find a quote matched to a topic or newsletter theme
  • Avoid repeating quotes recorded as used in past editions
  • Add new quotes with author, theme tags and context
  • Search the collection by keyword or theme
  • Research quotes from a specific thinker

Install the Aphorisms skill

Download the ZIP from the skill's page on this directory and unzip it. The skill folder is named Aphorisms. Put it in one of two places: your personal skills folder at ~/.claude/skills/, or a project's .claude/skills/ folder if you want it only for that project.

If you use the Claude apps instead of a folder, upload the skill under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.

  • Personal install: place the Aphorisms folder in ~/.claude/skills/
  • Project install: place the Aphorisms folder in your project's .claude/skills/
  • Claude apps: Settings → Capabilities → Skills, then upload the skill

Trigger the skill with natural requests

You do not need a special command. The skill's description lists phrases that route a request to it. Ask naturally and name the topic or edition. The skill is routed to by intent: finding a quote for a newsletter, adding a quote, researching a thinker, or searching the collection.

Requests that work well include a theme, a tone or a purpose, such as a quote for an edition on setbacks. Phrases from the skill's trigger list include "find a quote", "quote for newsletter", "what did X say about", "add aphorism" and "research thinker".

  • "Find a quote for my newsletter about overcoming setbacks"
  • "What did Marcus Aurelius say about control?"
  • "Add this aphorism to my quote bank"
  • "Research quotes from Confucius on learning"
  • "Show me quotes about curiosity"

Set up your own collection (optional)

The skill ships with a starter collection, Database/aphorisms.md. Your own collection lives under your config root at LIFEOS/USER/CUSTOMIZATIONS/SKILLS/Aphorisms/aphorisms.md, and takes precedence over the starter file once it exists. The skill's Setup.md describes the first-time setup, including your collection and a PREFERENCES.md file that names your default use and key thinkers.

Every addition and every newsletter use is written to the collection, so the quote bank grows with use. The skill's helper script can print which collection file it is using.

  • Starter file: Database/aphorisms.md (used until your own copy exists)
  • Your collection: LIFEOS/USER/CUSTOMIZATIONS/SKILLS/Aphorisms/aphorisms.md
  • Preferences: PREFERENCES.md in the same folder

What you need before it works

The skill declares several requirements. It runs a script, Tools/Aphorisms.ts, which needs the Bun runtime. The script imports LIFEOS/TOOLS/Paths.ts, so the LifeOS config layout must be present. The optional fetch command, used when an edition is given as a URL, needs network access. Without network access the skill still works on pasted text or listed themes.

Attribution is based on the model's knowledge plus a manual review step. The skill does not provide guaranteed-verified citations.

  • Bun runtime
  • LifeOS config layout (LIFEOS/TOOLS/Paths.ts)
  • Network access for the optional fetch command only
bun "${CLAUDE_CONFIG_DIR:-$HOME/.claude}/skills/Aphorisms/Tools/Aphorisms.ts" check

Safety notes: scripts and network

This skill runs scripts and uses the network. The helper script Tools/Aphorisms.ts has a check command, which validates the collection for exact duplicates, entries missing Author, Theme or Context lines, Theme Index headings outside the approved list, and authors missing from the Theme Index. The skill runs check after writing to the collection. A fetch command retrieves a URL-based edition. Read the script and Tools/Aphorisms.help.md before running it on your machine.

The skill's attribution is not a guarantee. Have a person check any quote before publishing it under someone's name.

  • Review Tools/Aphorisms.ts before first use
  • The network is used only by the fetch command for URL editions
  • Check quotes manually before publishing

Tips for a quote bank that stays useful

Keep the collection honest by letting the skill mark uncertain authors as Unknown or Disputed. Use theme tags from the approved list so search and the Theme Index stay consistent. A new category is proposed to you and added only after you approve it.

Record each newsletter pick so the skill knows which quotes are recently used. Quotes recommended in a run whose selection is still pending also count as used.

  • Use the approved theme categories so search stays consistent
  • Confirm new categories before they are used
  • Record the selected quote for each edition

What people use it for

  • Picking a recurring opening or closing quote for a newsletter without repeats
  • Building a themed quote bank for talks or writing
  • Collecting attributed quotes by thinker or theme for study
  • Searching the collection for quotes on a keyword before deciding on a theme

Frequently asked questions

Is the Aphorisms skill free?

The skill is published under the MIT licence, as stated on this page. Check the licence file in the repository for the full terms before redistributing it.

What do I need to run the Aphorisms skill?

You need the Bun runtime to run Tools/Aphorisms.ts, and the LifeOS config layout because the script imports LIFEOS/TOOLS/Paths.ts. Network access is needed only for the optional fetch command used with URL editions.

How do I install the Aphorisms skill?

Download the ZIP from this page and unzip the Aphorisms folder into ~/.claude/skills/ or a project's .claude/skills/ folder. In the Claude apps, upload it under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.

Does the skill guarantee that quotes are correctly attributed?

No. Attribution relies on the model's knowledge and a manual review step. Uncertain authors are marked Unknown or Disputed, but you should verify any quote before publishing it.

Can it write social posts or creative writing?

No. The skill excludes creative writing and social media posts, and it does not handle publishing your own words as if they were quotes from others.

Why does the agent say a quote was already used?

The skill records each newsletter's selected quote and counts recommended quotes in pending runs as used, then avoids them in later recommendations. Check the Newsletter Usage History in your collection file if a quote seems missing.

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Our verdict

Aphorisms suits newsletter writers who need a recurring quote without repeats, writers building themed quote banks, and students collecting attributed quotes by thinker. It is a poor fit if you need guaranteed-verified citations, creative copy, or social posts, so pick a different tool or add a manual check for those.

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