Gorky's words of wisdom? (5)
I believe the answer is:
maxim
This clue is a double definition.
'gorky's' is the first definition.
(Russian writer Maxim Gorky)
'words of wisdom?' is the second definition.
(thesaurus)
(Other definitions for maxim that I've seen before include "Pithy statement of a general truth" , "Saying - inventor of machine gun" , "Short pithy statement" , "Principle-first machine gun" , "General rule" .)