The Delphic Maxims

[Twinkle]

Follow God (Επου θεω)
Obey the law (Νομω πειθου)
Worship the Gods (Θεους σεβου)
Respect your parents (Γονεις αιδου)
Be overcome by justice (Ηττω υπο δικαιου)
Know what you have learned (Γνωθι μαθων)
Perceive what you have heard (Ακουσας νοει)
Be Yourself (Σαυτον ισθι)
Intend to get married (Γαμειν μελλε)
Know your opportunity (Καιρον γνωθι)
Think as a mortal (Φρονει θνητα)
If you are a stranger act like one (Ξepsilon;νος ων ισθι)
Honor the hearth [or Hestia] (Εστιαν τιμα)
Control yourself (Αρχε σεαυτου)
Help your friends (Φιλοις βοηθει)
Control anger (Θυμου κρατει)
Exercise prudence (Φρονησιν ασκει)
Honor providence (Προνοιαν τιμα)
Do not use an oath (Ορκω μη χρω)
Love friendship (Φιλιαν αγαπα)
Cling to discipline (Παιδειας αντεχου)
Pursue honor (Δοξαν διωκε)
Long for wisdom (Σοφιαν ζηλου)
Praise the good (Καλον ευ λεγε)
Find fault with no one (Ψεγε μηδενα)
Praise virtue (Επαινει αρετην)
Practice what is just (Πραττε δικαια)
Be kind to friends (Θιλοις ευνοει)
Watch out for your enemies (Εχθρους αμυνου)
Exercise nobility of character (Ευγενειαν ασκει)
Shun evil (Κακιας απεχου)
Be impartial (Κοινος γινου)
Guard what is yours (Ιδια φυλαττε)
Shun what belongs to others (Αλλοτριων απεχου)
Listen to everyone (Ακουε παντα)
Be (religiously) silent (Ευφημος ιοθι)
Do a favor for a friend (Φιλω χαριζου)
Nothing to excess (Μηδεν αγαν)
Use time sparingly (Χρονου φειδου)
Foresee the future (Ορα το μελλον)
Despise insolence (Υβριν μισει)
Have respect for suppliants (Ικετας αιδου)
Be accommodating in everything (Παςιν αρμοζου)
Educate your sons (Υιους παιδευε)
Give what you have (Εχων χαριζου)
Fear deceit (Δολον φοβου)
Speak well of everyone (Ευλογει παντας)
Be a seeker of wisdom (Φιλοσοφος γινου)
Choose what is divine (Οσια κρινε)
Act when you know (Γνους πραττε)
Shun murder (Φονου απεχου)
Pray for things possible (Ευχου δυνατα)
Consult the wise (Σοφοις χρω)
Test the character (Ηθος δοκιμαζε)
Give back what you have received (Λαβων αποδος)
Down-look no one (Υφορω μηδενα)
Use your skill (Τεχνη χρω)
Do what you mean to do (Ο μελλεις, δος)
Honor a benefaction (Ευεργεςιας τιμα)
Be jealous of no one (Φθονει μηδενι)
Be on your guard (Φυλακη προσεχε)
Praise hope (Ελπιδα αινει)
Despise a slanderer (Διαβολην μισει)
Gain possessions justly (Δικαιως κτω)
Honor good men (Αγαθους τιμα)
Know the judge (Κριτην γνωθι)
Master wedding-feasts (Γαμους κρατει)
Recognize fortune (Τυχην νομιζε)
Flee a pledge (Εγγυην φευγε)
Speak plainly (Αμλως διαλεγου)
Associate with your peers (Ομοιοις χρω)
Govern your expenses (Δαπανων αρχου)
Be happy with what you have (Κτωμενος ηδου)
Rever a sense of shame (Αισχυνην σεβου)
Fulfill a favor (Χαριν εκτελει)
Pray for happiness (Ευτυχιαν ευχου)
Be fond of fortune (Τυχην στεργε)
Observe what you have heard (Ακουων ορα)
Work for what you can own (Εργαζου κτητα)
Despise strife (Εριν μισει)
Detest disgrace (Ονειδς εχθαιρε)
Restrain the tongue (Γλωτταν ισχε)
Keep yourself from insolence (Υβριν αμυνου)
Make just judgements (Κρινε δικαια)
Use what you have (Χρω χρημασιν)
Judge incorruptibly (Αδωροδοκητος δικαζε)
Accuse one who is present (Αιτιω παροντα)
Tell when you know (Λεγε ειδως)
Do not depend on strength (Βιας μη εχου)
Live without sorrow (Αλυπως βιου)
Live together meekly (Ομιλει πραως)
Finish the race without shrinking back (Περας επιτελει μη αποδειλιων))
Deal kindly with everyone (Φιλοφρονει πασιν)
Do not curse your sons (Υιοις μη καταρω)
Rule your wife (Γυναικος αρχε)
Benefit yourself (Σεαυτον ευ ποιει)
Be courteous (Ευπροσηγορος γινου)
Give a timely response (Αποκρινου εν καιρω)
Struggle with glory (Πονει μετ ευκλειας)
Act without repenting (Πραττε αμετανοητως)
Repent of sins (Αμαρτανων μετανοει)
Control the eye (Οφθαλμοθ κρατει)
Give a timely counsel (Βουλευου χρονω)
Act quickly (Πραττε συντομως)
Guard friendship (Φιλιαν φυλαττε)
Be grateful (Ευγνωμων γινου)
Pursue harmony (Ομονοιαν διωκε)
Keep deeply the top secret (Αρρητον κρυπτε)
Fear ruling (Το κρατουν φοβου)

[Erebos]

I've always loved these.

[Twinkle]

Me too. They're good to look at as a sort of reminder. :)

[Erebos]

Yes they are. Most of them are really good advice that seems obvious, but it's helpful when things are stated simply like that. Then there are ones like "Rule your wife" which I could do without :lol:

[Twinkle]

I've always kind of cringed when I read that one. Now I take it more to mean that a man should let his wife know when she's acting like a butt - and conversely, the woman should do the same for her husband.

It's all about reciprocation. LOL

[David19]

Thanks for posting them, they're quite cool, although I might question the "intend to get married" one, and certain other ones, but, most seem like good advice, again, thanks for listing them :) :thumbsup:.

[patch]

I think the issues raised in this thread about the maxims can be put to rest when we consider cultural appropriation. ;) Some of them are no longer relevant within our culture, but can be adapted, or be used as a useful tool in understanding the ancient mindset.

I love the maxims...I should look at them more! I have them saved on my computer and used to review them often; underlining ones I needed to focus on.

[Twinkle]

I think the issues raised in this thread about the maxims can be put to rest when we consider cultural appropriation. ;) Some of them are no longer relevant within our culture, but can be adapted, or be used as a useful tool in understanding the ancient mindset.

I love the maxims...I should look at them more! I have them saved on my computer and used to review them often; underlining ones I needed to focus on.

Beautifully stated, Patch. Thank you.

[*~Amora~*]

I wrote two blog entries on interpreting the Maxims. If interested, please click:

On Ethics, Defense, and Spirituality (http://helleneste.wordpress.com/2009/09/16/on-ethics-defense-and-spiritualtiy/)

and

Ethics: Delphi, Solon, and Pythagoras - Discuss! (http://helleneste.wordpress.com/2009/09/24/ethics-delphi-solon-and-pythagoras-discuss/)

[David19]

I wrote two blog entries on interpreting the Maxims. If interested, please click:

On Ethics, Defense, and Spirituality (http://helleneste.wordpress.com/2009/09/16/on-ethics-defense-and-spiritualtiy/)

and

Ethics: Delphi, Solon, and Pythagoras - Discuss! (http://helleneste.wordpress.com/2009/09/24/ethics-delphi-solon-and-pythagoras-discuss/)

Thanks for those interesting links :).