Maxims of Delphi and Quotations of the Seven Sages of ancient Greece

MAXIMS OF DELPHI AND QUOTATIONS OF THE SEVEN SAGES OF ANCIENT GREECE

                               (SUMMARY)

by John Kyriazoglou

ISBN 978-1-4507-5833-8

This is available at: http://store.payloadz.com/details/956148-ebooks-philosophy-maxims-and-quotations-of-the-seven-sages-of-ancient-greece.html, and
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SYNOPSIS

This book contains a set of wisdom pieces of ancient Greece, in terms of the maxims of the oracle of Delphi and the quotations of the seven sages of ancient Greece.

 These maxims and quotations were translated from ancient Greek into English.

The original maxims and quotations (ancient Greek and current Greek) can be sent to anyone interested by a request to the author, without charge.

 The purpose of this book is to make all readers (general public, educated and not, young, old, men, women, high school, college and university students, managers, workers, professionals, etc.) aware of a set of classical quotations that could be used to help them in all walks and stages in their personal and professional life, and hopefully enable them to understand, reflect upon, and improve their relationships, in the long term.

 The translation of the maxims and quotations into English were done by the author on the basis of the original texts in both ancient Greek and current Greek and other sources noted in the bibliography.

 The Seven Sages (of ancient Greece) or Seven Wise Men  was the title given by ancient Greek cultural tradition to seven early 6th century B.C. philosophers, poets, rulers, statesmen and law-makers who were renowned in the following centuries for their wisdom, and which is still valid today. The seven sages were Thales, Pittacos, Bias, Solon, Cleovoulos, Periandros, and Chilon. They lived in ancient Greece over 600 years B.C. and before the advent of the classical Greek philosophers, like Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, etc.

Aristotle esteemed the wisdom of Bias. So did Plato who praises Bias, and Pittacos. Heracleitus had a very high respect for Bias and Pittacos. Also Plutarch, in his famous ‘Dinner of the seven sages’, refers to all seven sages with the highest remarks.

Their maxims and quotations set the background for the development of the classical Greek philosophy. The purpose of this book is to offer any reader a very simple guide into the wisdom of ancient Greece, improve his or her learning and thinking, because as Empedocles has said ‘learning really cultivates thinking’ and possibly allow him or her to gain some better understanding of this very old wisdom, and therefore see with their own ‘eyes’ and soul how these can help them in their every-day life.

 A SAMPLE OF THE MAXIMS OF DELPHI FOLLOW.

1. Follow God.

2. Obey the law.

3. Worship God.

4. Respect your parents.

 A SAMPLE OF THE QUOTATIONS OF THE SEVEN SAGES FOLLOW.

 
Quotations of Cleovoulos) 

1. The measure (limit, analogy) in all things is the best.

2. Respect your father.

3. Maintain your body and mind in good order.

Quotations of Solon

1. Never exaggerate.

2. Do not take the position of a judge, as in this case you will be hated by the condemned.  

4. Keep the politeness and goodness of your character more faithful than your oath.   

Quotations of Chilon

1. Know yourself.

8. Respect your elders.

15. Control your anger.

Quotations of Thales

2. Remember your friends, both, when they are near you, as well as when they are far away.

3. Do not beautify your external appearance, but you should look to become good in your behavior. 

4. Do not get rich in a bad way.           

Quotations of Pittacos

7. Show tolerance to small damages inflicted upon you by your neighbors.

12. Acquire what is not destroyed by time: piety, education, prudence, thoughtful mind, truth, belief, expense, skills and dexterities, co-operation, care, effective management, professional knowledge.

Quotations of Bias

2. Look into your mirror, and if you look nice, you must do nice things if, however, you look ugly, you must correct your physical deficiency with politeness and goodness

3. Do not be in a hurry to undertake something. When, however, you start, stay fixed to that until the end.

Quotations of Periandros

1. Exercising is the best thing.

2. To be quiet is a nice thing, to be arrogant and abusive, a dangerous one.

3. Profit is shameful.