Overlooking the Pleistos Valley on Mount Parnassus in Greece lie the ruins of The Temple of Apollo. Carved into the stone at this temple were 147 Delphic Maxims, said to be given by the Greek God Apollo himself. Quite possibly the most famous of these is the simple yet profound saying “Know thyself.” Among the other 146 maxims is a wealth of ancient insight and values that the most virtuous of people still hold today.
Ancient Greek philosophy arose over a half a millennia before the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. This time and area of the world is often referred to as “The Cradle of Western Civilization.” At the time, philosophy was used as a way to perceive the world through a lens of truth without the influence of dogmatic principles that religion often imposes on its followers.
The maxims are also believed to have come from the Seven Sages of Ancient Greece.
- Thales of Miletus (c. 624 – c. 546 BC) is the first well-known philosopher, mathematician, and astronomer. His advice, “Know thyself,” was engraved on the front facade of the Temple of Apollo in Delphi.
- Pittacus of Mytilene (c. 640 – 568 BC) governed Mytilene (Lesbos). He tried to reduce the power of the nobility and was able to govern with the support of the demos, whom he favoured.
- Bias of Priene (fl. 6th century BC) was a politician and legislator of the 6th century BC.
- Solon of Athens (c. 638 – 558 BC) was a famous legislator and reformer from Athens, framing the laws that shaped the Athenian democracy.
- The fifth and sixth sage are variously given as two of: Cleobulus, tyrant of Lindos (fl. c. 600 BC), reported as either the grandfather or father-in-law of Thales; Periander of Corinth (b. before 634 BC, d. c. 585 BC); Myson of Chenae (6th century BC); Anacharsis the Scythian (6th century BC).
- Chilon of Sparta (fl. 555 BC) was a Spartan politician to whom the militarization of Spartan society was attributed.
All 147 maxims can be found below and at the very bottom I have provided my thorough analysis of each and every one of them.
| 001. | Ἕπου θεῷ | Follow God |
| 002. | Νόμῳ πείθου | Obey the law |
| 003. | Θεοὺς σέβου | Worship the Gods |
| 004. | Γονεῖς αἰδοῦ | Respect your parents |
| 005. | Ἡττῶ ὑπὸ δικαίου | Be overcome by justice |
| 006. | Γνῶθι μαθών | Know what you have learned |
| 007. | Ἀκούσας νόει | Perceive what you have heard |
| 008. | Σαυτὸν ἴσθι | Be/Know yourself |
| 009. | Γαμεῖν μέλλε | Intend to get married ~ Key word here being ‘intend’ |
| 010. | Καιρὸν γνῶθι | Know your opportunity |
| 011. | Φρόνει θνητά | Think as a mortal |
| 012. | Ξένος ὢν ἴσθι | If you are a stranger act like one |
| 013. | Ἑστίαν τίμα | Honor the hearth (or Hestia) |
| 014. | Ἄρχε σεαυτοῦ | Control yourself |
| 015. | Φίλοις βοήθει | Help your friends |
| 016. | Θυμοῦ κράτει | Control anger |
| 017. | Φρόνησιν ἄσκει | Exercise prudence |
| 018. | Πρόνοιαν τίμα | Honor providence |
| 019. | Ὅρκῳ μὴ χρῶ | Do not use an oath |
| 020. | Φιλίαν ἀγάπα | Love friendship |
| 021. | Παιδείας ἀντέχου | Cling to discipline |
| 022. | Δόξαν δίωκε | Pursue honor |
| 023. | Σοφίαν ζήλου | Long for wisdom |
| 024. | Καλὸν εὖ λέγε | Praise the good |
| 025. | Ψέγε μηδένα | Find fault with no one |
| 026. | Ἐπαίνει ἀρετήν | Praise virtue |
| 027. | Πρᾶττε δίκαια | Practice what is just |
| 028. | Φίλοις εὐνόει | Be kind to friends |
| 029. | Ἐχθροὺς ἀμύνου | Watch out for your enemies |
| 030. | Εὐγένειαν ἄσκει | Exercise nobility of character |
| 031. | Κακίας ἀπέχου | Shun evil |
| 032. | Κοινὸς γίνου | Be impartial |
| 033. | Ἴδια φύλαττε | Guard what is yours |
| 034. | Αλλοτρίων ἀπέχου | Shun what belongs to others |
| 035. | Ἄκουε πάντα | Listen to everyone |
| 036. | Εὔφημος ἴσθι | Be (religiously) silent |
| 037. | Φίλῳ χαρίζου | Do a favor for a friend |
| 038. | Μηδὲν ἄγαν | Nothing to excess |
| 039. | Χρόνου φείδου | Use time sparingly |
| 040. | Ὅρα τὸ μέλλον | Foresee the future |
| 041. | Ὕβριν μίσει | Despise insolence |
| 042. | Ἱκέτας αἰδοῦ | Have respect for suppliants |
| 043. | Πᾶσιν ἁρμόζου | Be accommodating in everything |
| 044. | Υἱοὺς παίδευε | Educate your sons |
| 045. | Ἔχων χαρίζου | Give what you have |
| 046. | Δόλον φοβοῦ | Fear deceit |
| 047. | Εὐλόγει πάντας | Speak well of everyone |
| 048. | Φιλόσοφος γίνου | Be a seeker of wisdom |
| 049. | Ὅσια κρῖνε | Choose what is divine |
| 050. | Γνοὺς πρᾶττε | Act when you know |
| 051. | Φόνου ἀπέχου | Shun murder |
| 052. | Εὔχου δυνατά | Pray for things possible |
| 053. | Σοφοῖς χρῶ | Consult the wise |
| 054. | Ἦθος δοκίμαζε | Test the character |
| 055. | Λαβὼν ἀπόδος | Give back what you have received |
| 056. | Ὑφορῶ μηδένα | Down-look no one |
| 057. | Τέχνῃ χρῶ | Use your skill |
| 058. | Ὃ μέλλεις, δός | Do what you mean to do |
| 059. | Εὐεργεσίας τίμα | Honor a benefaction |
| 060. | Φθόνει μηδενί | Be jealous of no one |
| 061. | Φυλακῇ πρόσεχε | Be on your guard |
| 062. | Ἐλπίδα αἴνει | Praise hope |
| 063. | Διαβολὴν μίσει | Despise a slanderer |
| 064. | Δικαίως κτῶ | Gain possessions justly |
| 065. | Ἀγαθοὺς τίμα | Honor good men |
| 066. | Κριτὴν γνῶθι | Know the judge |
| 067. | Γάμους κράτει | Master wedding-feasts |
| 068. | Τύχην νόμιζε | Recognize fortune |
| 069. | Ἐγγύην φεῦγε | Flee a pledge |
| 070. | Ἁπλῶς διαλέγου | Speak plainly |
| 071. | Ὁμοίοις χρῶ | Associate with your peers |
| 072. | Δαπανῶν ἄρχου | Govern your expenses |
| 073. | Κτώμενος ἥδου | Be happy with what you have |
| 074. | Αἰσχύνην σέβου | Revere a sense of shame |
| 075. | Χάριν ἐκτέλει | Fulfill a favor |
| 076. | Εὐτυχίαν εὔχου | Pray for happiness |
| 077. | Τύχην στέργε | Be fond of fortune |
| 078. | Ἀκούων ὅρα | Observe what you have heard |
| 079. | Ἐργάζου κτητά | Work for what you can own |
| 080. | Ἔριν μίσει | Despise strife |
| 081. | Ὄνειδος ἔχθαιρε | Detest disgrace |
| 082. | Γλῶτταν ἴσχε | Restrain the tongue |
| 083. | Ὕβριν ἀμύνου | Keep yourself from insolence |
| 084. | Κρῖνε δίκαια | Make just judgements |
| 085. | Χρῶ χρήμασιν | Use what you have |
| 086. | Ἀδωροδόκητος δίκαζε | Judge incorruptibly |
| 087. | Αἰτιῶ παρόντα | Accuse one who is present |
| 088. | Λέγε εἰδώς | Tell when you know |
| 089. | Βίας μὴ ἔχου | Do not depend on strength |
| 090. | Ἀλύπως βίου | Live without sorrow |
| 091. | Ὁμίλει πρᾴως | Live together meekly |
| 092. | Πέρας ἐπιτέλει μὴ ἀποδειλιῶν | Finish the race without shrinking back |
| 093. | Φιλοφρόνει πᾶσιν | Deal kindly with everyone |
| 094. | Υἱοῖς μὴ καταρῶ | Do not curse your sons |
| 095. | Γυναικὸς ἄρχε | Rule your wife ~ This one is a big dodgy & dated |
| 096. | Σεαυτὸν εὖ ποίει | Benefit yourself |
| 097. | Εὐπροσήγορος γίνου | Be courteous |
| 098. | Ἀποκρίνου ἐν καιρῷ | Give a timely response |
| 099. | Πόνει μετ’ εὐκλείας | Struggle with glory ~ Be humble |
| 100. | Πρᾶττε ἀμετανοήτως | Act without repenting |
| 101. | Ἁμαρτάνων μετανόει | Repent of sins |
| 102. | Ὀφθαλμοῦ κράτει | Control the eye |
| 103. | Βουλεύου χρόνῳ | Give a timely counsel |
| 104. | Πρᾶττε συντόμως | Act quickly |
| 105. | Φιλίαν φύλαττε | Guard friendship |
| 106. | Εὐγνώμων γίνου | Be grateful |
| 107. | Ὁμόνοιαν δίωκε | Pursue harmony |
| 108. | Ἄρρητον κρύπτε | Keep deeply the top secret |
| 109. | Τὸ κρατοῦν φοβοῦ | Fear ruling |
| 110. | Τὸ συμφέρον θηρῶ | Pursue what is profitable |
| 111. | Καιρὸν προσδέχου | Accept due measure |
| 112. | Ἔχθρας διάλυε | Do away with enmities |
| 113. | Γῆρας προσδέχου | Accept old age |
| 114. | Ἐπὶ ῥώμῃ μὴ καυχῶ | Do not boast in might |
| 115. | Εὐφημίαν ἄσκει | Exercise (religious) silence |
| 116. | Ἀπέχθειαν φεῦγε | Flee enmity |
| 117. | Πλούτει δικαίως | Acquire wealth justly |
| 118. | Δόξαν μὴ λεῖπε | Do not abandon honor |
| 119. | Κακίαν μίσει | Despise evil |
| 120. | Κινδύνευε φρονίμως | Venture into danger prudently |
| 121. | Μανθάνων μὴ κάμνε | Do not tire of learning |
| 122. | Φειδόμενος μὴ λεῖπε | Do not stop to be thrifty |
| 123. | Χρησμοὺς θαύμαζε | Admire oracles |
| 124. | Οὓς τρέφεις, ἀγάπα | Love whom you rear |
| 125. | Ἀπόντι μὴ μάχου | Do not oppose someone absent |
| 126. | Πρεσβύτερον αἰδοῦ | Respect the elder |
| 127. | Νεώτερον δίδασκε | Teach a youngster |
| 128. | Πλούτῳ ἀπίστει | Do not trust wealth |
| 129. | Σεαυτὸν αἰδοῦ | Respect yourself |
| 130. | Μὴ ἄρχε ὑβρίζειν | Do not begin to be insolent |
| 131. | Προγόνους στεφάνου | Crown your ancestors |
| 132. | Θνῆσκε ὑπὲρ πατρίδος | Die for your country |
| 133 | Τῷ βίῳ μὴ ἄχθου | Do not be discontented by life |
| 134. | Ἐπὶ νεκρῷ μὴ γέλα | Do not make fun of the dead |
| 135. | Ἀτυχοῦντι συνάχθου | Share the load of the unfortunate |
| 136. | Χαρίζου ἀβλαβῶς | Gratify without harming |
| 137. | Μὴ ἐπὶ παντὶ λυποῦ | Grieve for no one ~ Not sure if I agree with this one either |
| 138. | Ἐξ εὐγενῶν γέννα | Beget from noble routes |
| 139. | Ἐπαγγέλλου μηδενί | Make promises to no one |
| 140. | Φθιμένους μὴ ἀδίκει | Do not wrong the dead |
| 141. | Εὖ πάσχε ὡς θνητός | Be well off as a mortal |
| 142. | Τύχῃ μὴ πίστευε | Do not trust fortune |
| 143. | Παῖς ὢν κόσμιος ἴσθι | As a child be well-behaved |
| 144. | Ἡβῶν ἐγκρατής | As a youth be self-disciplined |
| 145. | Μέσος δίκαιος | As of middle-age be just |
| 146. | Πρεσβύτης εὔλογος | As an old man be sensible |
| 147. | Τελευτῶν ἄλυπος | On reaching the end be without sorrow |
Analysis Summary: Thrive not to be a selfish, ignorant, uneducated dick.
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