The Delphic maxims are a set of phrases of wisdom inscribed at Delphi. Originally, they were said to have been given by the Greek God Apollo's Oracle at Delphi and were therefore attributed to Apollo himself.
The maxims are also believed to have come from the Seven Sages of Ancient Greece:
a ) Thales of Miletus (c. 624 – c. 546 BCE) 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.
b) Pittacus of Mytilene (c. 640 – 568 BCE) 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 BCE) was a politician and legislator of the 6th century BC.
c) Solon of Athens (c. 638 – 558 BCE) was a famous legislator and reformer from Athens, framing the laws that shaped the Athenian democracy.
d,e) There are various opinions about the fifth and sixth sage : Cleobulus, tyrant of Lindos (fl. c. 600 BCE), reported as either the grandfather or father-in-law of Thales; Periander of Corinth (b. before 634 BCE, d. c. 585 BCE); Myson of Chenae (6th century BCE); Anacharsis the Scythian (6th century BCE).
f) Chilon of Sparta (fl. 555 BCE) was a Spartan politician to whom the militarization of Spartan society was attributed.
Perhaps the most famous of these maxims is 'γνώθι σαυτόν' (know thyself ) ,which was carved into the Temple of Apollo at Delphi. The specific order and wording of each maxim varies between different versions (and translations) of the text.
1.Ἕπου θεῷ Follow God
2. Νόμῳ πείθου Obey the law
3. Θεούς σέβου Respect the Gods
4. Γονεῖς αἰδοῦ Respect your parents
5. Ἡττῶ ὑπὸ δικαίου Submit to what is just
6. Γνῶθι μαθών Know what you have learned
7. Ἀκούσας νόει Understand what you have heard
8. Σαυτὸν ἴσθι Be/Know yourself
9. Γαμεῖν μέλλε Intend to get married
10. Καιρὸν γνῶθι Know your opportunity
11. Φρόνει θνητά Think as a mortal
12. Ξένος ὢν ἴσθι If you are a stranger act like one
13. Ἑστίαν τίμα Honor the house
14. Ἄρχε σεαυτοῦ Control yourself
15. Φίλοις βοήθει Help your friends
16. Θυμοῦ κράτει Control your anger
17. Φρόνησιν ἄσκει Exercise prudence
18. Πρόνοιαν τίμα Honor providence
19. Ὅρκῳ μὴ χρῶ Do not use an oath
20. Φιλίαν ἀγάπα Love friendship
21. Παιδείας ἀντέχου Focus on your education
22. Δόξαν δίωκε Pursue honor
23. Σοφίαν ζήλου Long for wisdom
24. Καλὸν εὖ λέγε Praise the good
25. Ψέγε μηδένα Find fault with no one
26. Ἐπαίνει ἀρετήν Praise virtue
27. Πρᾶττε δίκαια Practice what is just
28. Φίλοις εὐνόει Favor friends
29. Ἐχθροὺς ἀμύνου Defend against enemies
30. Εὐγένειαν ἄσκει Exercise nobility of character
31. Κακίας ἀπέχου Shun evil
32. Κοινὸς γίνου Be sociable
33. Ἴδια φύλαττε Guard what is yours
34. Αλλοτρίων ἀπέχου Shun what belongs to others
35. Ἄκουε πάντα Listen to everything
36. Εὔφημος ἴσθι Have a good reputation
37. Φίλῳ χαρίζου Do a favor for a friend
38. Μηδὲν ἄγαν Nothing to excess
39. Χρόνου φείδου Use time sparingly
40. Ὅρα τὸ μέλλον Foresee the future
41. Ὕβριν μίσει Despise insolence
42. Ἱκέτας αἰδοῦ Have respect for suppliants
43. Πᾶσιν ἁρμόζου Be accommodating in everything
44. Υἱοὺς παίδευε Educate your sons
45. Ἔχων χαρίζου When you have, give away
46. Δόλον φοβοῦ Fear deceit
47. Εὐλόγει πάντας Speak well of everyone
48. Φιλόσοφος γίνου Be a seeker of wisdom
49. Ὅσια κρῖνε Judge what is divine
50. Γνοὺς πρᾶττε Act with awareness
51. Φόνου ἀπέχου Shun murder
52. Εὔχου δυνατά Pray with all the strength you have
53. Σοφοῖς χρῶ Consult the wise / Seek the company of the wise
54. Ἦθος δοκίμαζε Praise the good character
55. Λαβὼν ἀπόδος Give back what you have received
56. Ὑφορῶ μηδένα Look down upon no one
57. Τέχνῃ χρῶ Use your skill
58. Ὃ μέλλεις, δός Do what you mean to do
59. Εὐεργεσίας τίμα Honor a benefaction
60. Φθόνει μηδενί Be envious of no one
61. Φυλακῇ πρόσεχε Be on your guard
62. Ἐλπίδα αἴνει Praise hope
63. Διαβολὴν μίσει Despise slander
64. Δικαίως κτῶ Gain possessions justly
65. Ἀγαθοὺς τίμα Honor good men
66. Κριτὴν γνῶθι Know your judge
67. Γάμους κράτει Honour your marriage
68. Τύχην νόμιζε Recognize fortune
69. Ἐγγύην φεῦγε Flee a pledge
70. Ἁπλῶς διαλέγου Speak plainly
71. Ὁμοίοις χρῶ Associate with your peers
72. Δαπανῶν ἄρχου Govern your expenses
73. Κτώμενος ἥδου Be happy with what you have
74. Αἰσχύνην σέβου Revere a sense of shame
75. Χάριν ἐκτέλει Fulfill a favor
76. Εὐτυχίαν εὔχου Pray for happiness
77. Τύχην στέργε Be fond of fortune
78. Ἀκούων ὅρα When you listen, observe
79. Ἐργάζου κτητά Work for what is worth obtaining
80. Ἔριν μίσει Despise strife
81. Ὄνειδος ἔχθαιρε Detest disgrace
82. Γλῶτταν ἴσχε Restrain the tongue
83. Ὕβριν ἀμύνου Protect yourself from insolence
84. Κρῖνε δίκαια Make fair judgements
85. Χρῶ χρήμασιν Use what you have
86. Ἀδωροδόκητος δίκαζε Judge incorruptibly
87. Αἰτιῶ παρόντα Accuse one who is present
88. Λέγε εἰδώς Speak when you know
89. Βίας μὴ ἔχου Have no violence
90. Ἀλύπως βίου Live without sorrow
91. Ὁμίλει πράως Speak kindly
92. Πέρας ἐπιτέλει μὴ ἀποδειλιών Do not hesitate to finish what you have started
93. Φιλοφρόνει πᾶσιν Deal kindly with everyone
94. Υἱοῖς μὴ καταρῶ Do not curse your sons
95. Σεαυτὸν εὖ ποίει Benefit yourself
96. Εὐπροσήγορος γίνου Be courteous
97. Ἀποκρίνου ἐν καιρῷ Give a timely response
98. Πόνει μετ’ εὐκλείας Struggle with glory
99. Πρᾶττε ἀμετανοήτως Act without repenting
100. Ἁμαρτάνων μετανόει Repent of sins
101. Ὀφθαλμοῦ κράτει Control the eye
102. Βουλεύου χρόνῳ Give a timely counsel
103. Πρᾶττε συντόμως Act quickly
104. Φιλίαν φύλαττε Guard friendship
105. Εὐγνώμων γίνου Become grateful
106. Ὁμόνοιαν δίωκε Pursue harmony
107. Ἄρρητον κρύπτε Keep what is secret
108. Τὸ κρατοῦν φοβοῦ Fear those in power
109. Τὸ συμφέρον θηρῶ Pursue what is profitable
110. Καιρὸν προσδέχου Accept the passing of time
111. Ἔχθρας διάλυε Do away with enmities
112. Γῆρας προσδέχου Accept old age
113. Ἐπὶ ῥώμῃ μὴ καυχῶ Do not boast in might
114. Εὐφημίαν ἄσκει Utilise your good reputation
115. Ἀπέχθειαν φεῦγε Flee enmity
116. Πλούτει δικαίως Acquire wealth justly
117. Δόξαν μὴ λεῖπε Do not abandon honor
118. Κακίαν μίσει Despise evil
119. Κινδύνευε φρονίμως Venture into danger prudently
120. Μανθάνων μὴ κάμνε Do not tire of learning
121. Φειδόμενος μὴ λεῖπε Do not stop being thrifty
122. Χρησμοὺς θαύμαζε Admire oracles
123. Οὓς τρέφεις, ἀγάπα Love whom you rear
124. Ἀπόντι μὴ μάχου Do not oppose someone absent
125. Πρεσβύτερον αἰδοῦ Respect the elder
126. Νεώτερον δίδασκε Teach a youngster
127. Πλούτῳ ἀπίστει Do not trust wealth
128. Σεαυτὸν αἰδοῦ Respect yourself
129. Μὴ ἄρχε ὑβρίζειν Do not rule with arrogance
130. Προγόνους στεφάνου Crown your ancestors
131. Θνῆσκε ὑπὲρ πατρίδος Die for your country
132. Τῷ βίῳ μὴ ἄχθου Do not be discontented by life
133. Ἐπὶ νεκρῷ μὴ γέλα Do not mock the dead
134. Ἀτυχοῦντι συνάχθου Share the burden of the unfortunate
135. Χαρίζου ἀβλαβῶς Gratify without harming
136. Μὴ ἐπὶ παντὶ λυποῦ Do not grieve for everything
137. Ἐξ εὐγενῶν γέννα Beget from noble routes
138. Ἐπαγγέλλου μηδενί Make promises to no one
139. Φθιμένους μὴ ἀδίκει Do not wrong the dead
140. Εὖ πάσχε ὡς θνητός Endure what happens as a mortal
141. Τύχῃ μὴ πίστευε Do not trust fortune
142. Παῖς ὢν κόσμιος ἴσθι As a child be well-behaved
143. Ἡβῶν ἐγκρατής As a youth be self-disciplined
144. Μέσος δίκαιος As of middle-age be just
145. Πρεσβύτης εὔλογος As an old man be sensible
146. Τελευτῶν ἄλυπος Upon reaching death be without sorrow
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