Good Advice Cryptograms

Good Advice Cryptograms

Counsel worth decoding. Following it is your own affair.

The Czar issues decrees, not advice, but recognizes the value of the form. This file holds guidance that has survived long enough to be worth encrypting - the kind of line people put on walls, and then ignore.

Aphorisms are built to be memorable, which means they are built on rhythm and repetition - and repetition is a cryptogram's weak point. When the same short word appears three times in one quote, you are not looking at a puzzle, you are looking at a hinge. Force it open and most of the quote follows.

Deal another puzzle from this file · Read the Czar's tactics · Send for Agent Vera

Questions for the Czar

Are advice cryptograms easy?

Generally yes. Aphorisms are written to be memorable, so they use common words, strong rhythm and a lot of repetition - and repeated words are exactly what a cryptogram cannot hide from you.

What should I look for first?

Repetition. Find a short word that appears more than once and solve that one first; because aphorisms are built on parallel structure, cracking a repeated word usually collapses a large part of the quote at once.