Al was skilled at language. Consequently he often produced sayings of his own that could or should qualify as adages. One of the features of adages are that they capture an amazing insight or inspiration in a very few words.
Like lyrics of some songs, we value the impact of the insight into human affairs relative to the economy of expression. Big intuitive understanding; few words.
Al also liked to collect Sayings and Adages, collecting wisdom wherever he could find it.