| Topic: |
Science > Philosophy |
| User: |
"turtoni" |
| Date: |
13 Dec 2006 03:18:37 AM |
| Object: |
The Seven Sages (of Greece) |
The standard list is:
Solon of Athens - "Nothing in excess"
Chilon of Sparta - "Know thyself"
Thales of Miletus - "To bring surety brings ruin"
Bias of Priene - "Too many workers spoil the work"
Cleobulus of Lindos - "Moderation is impeccable"
Pittacus of Mitylene - "Know thine opportunity"
Periander of Corinth - "Forethought in all things"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Wise_Men_of_Greece
.
|
|
| User: "Brian Fletcher" |
|
| Title: Re: The Seven Sages (of Greece) |
13 Dec 2006 05:58:51 AM |
|
|
"turtoni" <turtoni@fastmail.net> wrote in message
news:1166001517.083926.99950@n67g2000cwd.googlegroups.com...
The standard list is:
Solon of Athens - "Nothing in excess"
Chilon of Sparta - "Know thyself"
Thales of Miletus - "To bring surety brings ruin"
Bias of Priene - "Too many workers spoil the work"
Cleobulus of Lindos - "Moderation is impeccable"
Pittacus of Mitylene - "Know thine opportunity"
Periander of Corinth - "Forethought in all things"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Wise_Men_of_Greece
I guess we had to start somewhere !!!
BOfL
.
|
|
|
|
| User: "Sir Frederick" |
|
| Title: Re: The Seven Sages (of Greece) |
13 Dec 2006 06:22:06 AM |
|
|
On 13 Dec 2006 01:18:37 -0800, "turtoni" <turtoni@fastmail.net> wrote:
The standard list is:
Solon of Athens - "Nothing in excess"
Chilon of Sparta - "Know thyself"
Thales of Miletus - "To bring surety brings ruin"
Bias of Priene - "Too many workers spoil the work"
Cleobulus of Lindos - "Moderation is impeccable"
Pittacus of Mitylene - "Know thine opportunity"
Periander of Corinth - "Forethought in all things"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Wise_Men_of_Greece
Unfortunately, no stimulation of religious experience
there, hence no religion to keep those stories present and
practiced.
.
|
|
|
| User: "George Dance" |
|
| Title: Re: The Seven Sages (of Greece) |
13 Dec 2006 01:41:40 PM |
|
|
Sir Frederick wrote:
On 13 Dec 2006 01:18:37 -0800, "turtoni" <turtoni@fastmail.net> wrote:
The standard list is:
Solon of Athens - "Nothing in excess"
Chilon of Sparta - "Know thyself"
Thales of Miletus - "To bring surety brings ruin"
Bias of Priene - "Too many workers spoil the work"
Cleobulus of Lindos - "Moderation is impeccable"
Pittacus of Mitylene - "Know thine opportunity"
Periander of Corinth - "Forethought in all things"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Wise_Men_of_Greece
Unfortunately, no stimulation of religious experience
there, hence no religion to keep those stories present and
practiced.
But some of those have been kept present and practiced. Chilon's "Know
thyself," eg, lives on in Plato's character, Socrates. While Solon's
"nothing in excess" an Cleobulus' "Moderation is impeccable" have come
down to us in Aristotle's virtue ethics.
.
|
|
|
|
| User: "Wanker" |
|
| Title: Re: The Seven Sages (of Greece) |
13 Dec 2006 06:45:45 AM |
|
|
Who needs religion when we have our own clich=E9s?
Solon of Athens - "Nothing in excess"
Don't gild the lily
Bias of Priene - "Too many workers spoil the work"
Too many cooks spoil the broth.
Periander of Corinth - "Forethought in all things"
Look before you leap
.
|
|
|
| User: "George Dance" |
|
| Title: Re: The Seven Sages (of Greece) |
13 Dec 2006 01:43:23 PM |
|
|
Wanker wrote:
Who needs religion when we have our own clich=E9s?
Solon of Athens - "Nothing in excess"
Don't gild the lily
Bias of Priene - "Too many workers spoil the work"
Too many cooks spoil the broth.
Periander of Corinth - "Forethought in all things"
Look before you leap
A cliche has to begin as a non-cliche; it's only after it becomes
non-controversial that it becomes a cliche.
.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| User: "Immortalist" |
|
| Title: Re: The Seven Sages (of Greece) |
13 Dec 2006 12:52:44 PM |
|
|
The Seven Sages of Greece (c. 620 BC-550 BC) was the title given by
Greek tradition to seven wise ancient Greek men who were philosophers,
statesmen and law-givers. The Seven Sages are known for their practical
wisdom which "consisted of pithy and memorable dicta". The best were
put up on the wall of the temple at Delphi as dedications to the god
Apollo. Plato provides the earliest list of the so-called Seven Sages;
although Simonides, a century earlier, sets out to answer Pittacus and
Cleobulus as though striving for a place on the list.
http://wiki.phantis.com/index.php/Seven_Sages_of_Greece
The seven appeared at a time of incipient reunification of the Greek
city states after a time of civil disorder and population displacements
consequent on the fall of Mycenaean civilization. Unity was expressed
in such common institutions as the Panhellenic Games and the oracle at
Delphi. There were many oracles, and more than one of Apollo (god of
truth), but Delphi was preferred, perhaps because of its central,
sheltered and scenic location, and was fast rising to dominance.
The times required men of action. Ordinary people were illiterate and
did not have the time or patience for the lengthy considerations of
indecisive men. They mistrusted the literate, running playwrights out
of town, burning the Pythagorean schools and assassinating the
Pythagoreans, and characterizing the philosophers as fools with their
heads in the clouds, or being so stupid as to step into a well while
looking at the stars. Look at the earth around you, they said. Pay
attention to earning money. And yet, it was on these people that the
burden of constructing the new Hellas fell.
The successful and dominant Dorians had brought a succinct and somewhat
hard-boiled tradition of action with them from up-country. For example,
when emissaries came from the Persian Great King demanding earth and
water from Sparta as a token of submission, the Spartans threw them
into a well, exclaiming "dig it out yourselves."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Sages_of_Greece
The standard list is:
1 Solon of Athens -"Nothing in excess"
2 Chilon of Sparta -"Know thyself"
3 Thales of Miletus -"To bring surety brings ruin"
4 Bias of Priene -"Too many workers spoil the work"
5 Cleobulus of Lindos -"Moderation is impeccable"
6 Pittacus of Mitylene -"Know thine opportunity"
7 Periander of Corinth -"Forethought in all things"
-----------------------------
1 Solon of Athens
Maxims
'Speech is the mirror of action.'
'The strongest and most capable is king.'
'Secrecy is the seal of speech, and occasion the seal of secrecy.'
'Those who have influence with tyrants are like the pebbles employed in
calculations.'
'Put more trust in nobility of character than in an oath.'
'Never tell a lie.'
'Pursue worthy aims.'
'Do not be rash to make friends and, when once they are made, do not
drop them.'
'Learn to obey before you command.'
'In giving advice seek to help, not to please your friend.'
'Be led by reason.'
'Shun evil company.'
'Honour the gods, reverence parents.'
'In great affairs it is difficult to please all.' [Plu.Sol.25.5]
Dialogues
Q.: Why have you not framed any law against parricide?
SOLON: Because I hope it is unnecessary.
Q.: How can crime most effectually be diminished?
SOLON: If it caused as much resentment in those who are not its victims
as in those who are; wealth breeds satiety, satiety outrage.
Q.: Why did you prohibited Thespis from performing tragedies?
SOLON: Because fiction is pernicious (or as Plutarch in Solon 29.5.
reports: "If we give play of this sort so much praise and honor, we
shall find it in our solemn contracts."
---------------------------
2 Chilon of Sparta
Maxims
'Give a pledge, and suffer for it.'
'Control the tongue, especially at a banquet.'
'Do not use threats to anyone.'
'Be more ready to visit friends in adversity than in prosperity.'
'Do not make an extravagant marriage.'
'Honour old age.'
'Consult your own safety.'
'Prefer a loss to a dishonest gain.'
'Do not laugh at another's misfortune.'
'When strong, be merciful, if you would have the respect, not the fear,
of your neighbours.'
'By the whetstone gold is tried, giving manifest proof; and by gold is
the mind of good and evil men brought to the test.'
'Be a wise master in your own house.'
'Let not your tongue outrun your thought.'
'Control anger.'
'Do not hate divination.'
'Do not aim at impossibilities.'
'Let no one see you in a hurry.'
'Gesticulation in speaking should be avoided as a mark of insanity.'
'Obey the laws.'
'Be restful.'
Dialogues
Q.: Wherein lies the difference between the educated and the
uneducated?
CHILON: In good hope.
Q.: What is hard?
CHILON: To keep a secret, to employ leisure well, to be able to bear an
injury.
CHILON'S BROTHER: Why am I not, like you, made an ephor?
CHILON: I know how to submit to injustice and you do not.
CHILON: What is Zeus doing?
AESOP: He is humbling the proud and exalting the humble.
---------------------------
3 Thales of Miletus
Maxims
"Of all things that are, the most ancient is God, for he is uncreated.
The most beautiful is the universe, for it is God's workmanship.
The greatest is space, for it holds all things,
The swiftest is mind, for it speeds everywhere.'
The strongest, Necessity, for it masters all.
The wisest, Time, for it brings everything to light." [Thales. DL 1.35]
'Know thyself.'
'Seek one sole wisdom.'
'Choose one sole good.'
Dialogues
THALES: There is no difference between life and death.
Q.: Why do you not die?
THALES: Because there is no difference.
Q.: Which is older, day or night?
THALES: Night is the older by one day.
Q.: Can a man hide an evil deed from the gods?
THALES: No, nor yet an evil thought.
Q.: Should an adulterer deny the charge of adultery upon oath?
THALES: Perjury is no worse than adultery.
Q.: What is difficult?
THALES: To know oneself.
Q.: What is easy?
THALES: To give advice.
Q.: What is most pleasant?
THALES: Success.
Q.: What is the divine?
THALES: That which has neither beginning nor end.
Q.: What is the strangest thing you have ever seen?
THALES. An aged tyrant.
Q.: How can one best bear adversity?
THALES: Seeing one's enemies in worse plight.
Q.: How shall we lead the best and most righteous life?
THALES: By refraining from doing what we blame in others.
Q.: What man is happy?
THALES: He who has a healthy body, a resourceful mind and a docile
nature.
---------------------------
4 Bias of Priene
Maxims
'Most men are bad.'
'He who cannot bear misfortune is truly unfortunate.'
'It is a disease of the soul to be enamoured of things impossible of
attainment.'
'We ought not to dwell upon the woes of others.'
'You should measure life as if you had both a short and a long time to
live.'
'Love your friends as if you would some day hate them, for the majority
of mankind is bad.'
'Be slow to set about an enterprise, but persevere in it steadfastly
when once it is undertaken.'
'Do not be hasty of speech, for that is a sign of madness.'
'Cherish wisdom.'
'Admit the existence of the gods.'
'If a man is unworthy, do not praise him because of his wealth.'
'Even chance brings abundance of wealth to many.'
'Gain your point by persuasion, not by force.'
'Ascribe your good actions to the gods.'
'Make wisdom your provision for the journey from youth to old age; for
it is more certain support than all other possessions.'
Dialogues
Q.: What is difficult?
BIAS: Nobly to endure a change for the worse.'
Q.: What is sweet to men?
BIAS: Hope.
Q.: What occupation gives a man most pleasure?
BIAS: Making money.
---------------------------
5 Cleobulus of Lindos (Rhodes)
Maxims
'Moderation is best.'
'Set your mind on something good.'
'Do not become thoughtless or rude.'
'Girls need to be educated as well as boys.'
'We should render a service to a friend to bind him closer to us, and
to an enemy in order to make a friend of him.'
'When anyone leaves his house, let him first inquire what he means to
do; and on his return let him ask himself what he has effected.'
'Practise bodily exercise.'
'Be listener rather than talker.'
'Choose instruction rather than ignorance.'
'Refrain from ill-omened words.'
'Be friendly to virtue, hostile to vice.'
'Shun injustice.'
'Counsel the state for the best.'
'Do nothing by violence.'
'Put an end to enmity.'
'Avoid being affectionate to your wife, or quarrelling with her, in the
presence of strangers: for the one savours of folly, the other of
madness.'
'Mate with one of your own rank; for if you take a wife who is superior
to you, her kinsfolk will become your masters.'
'Bear the changes of fortune with nobility.'
'Do not be arrogant in prosperity; if you fall into poverty, do not
humble yourself.'
---------------------------
6 Pittacus of Mitylene
Maxims
'Know your opportunity.
'Mercy is better than vengeance.'
'It is hard to be good.'
'Even the gods do not fight against Necessity.'
'Office shows the man.'
'Win bloodless victories.'
'If you seek too carefully for a good man, you will never find him.'
'It is the part of prudent men, before difficulties arise, to provide
against their arising; and of courageous men to deal with them when
they have arisen.'
'Do not announce your plans beforehand; for, if they fail, you will be
laughed at.'
'Never reproach any one with a misfortune, for fear of Nemesis.'
'Duly restore what has been entrusted to you.'
'Speak no ill of a friend, nor even of an enemy.'
'Practise piety.'
'Love temperance.'
'Cherish truth, fidelity, skill, cleverness, sociability, carefulness.'
Dialogues
Q.: What is agreeable?
PITTACUS: Time.
Q.: Obscure?
PITTACUS: The future.
Q.: Trustworthy?
PITTACUS: The earth.
Q.: Untrustworthy?
PITTACUS: The sea.
PITTACUS to PERIANDER: Do not get drunk and do not revel, in order that
you may not be recognized as the sort of man you happen to be, instead
of the sort you pretend to be. [Ath.10.427]
---------------------------
7 Periander of Corinth
Maxims
'Practice makes perfect.'
'Never do anything for money.'
'Leave gain to trades pursued for gain.'
'Tyrants who intend to be safe should make loyalty their bodyguard, not
arms.'
'For a tyrant it is as dangerous to retire voluntarily as to be
dispossessed.'
'Rest is beautiful.'
'Rashness has its perils.'
'Gain is ignoble.'
'Democracy is better than tyranny.'
'Be moderate in prosperity, prudent in adversity.'
'Be the same to your friends whether they are in prosperity or in
adversity.'
'Whatever agreement you make, stick to it.'
'Betray no secret.'
'Correct not only the offenders but also those who are on the point of
offending.'
http://homepage.mac.com/cparada/GML/SevenSages.html
http://sikyon.com/Korinth/sages_eg.html
.
|
|
|
|
|
Related Articles |
|
|
