Greek Texts & Translations

ch. 3 9.3.1When there was a dispute about the golden tripod, ^note the Pythian priestess delivered the following oracle: 9.3.2 Miletus' son, dost ask Apollo's will
About the tripod? Who is first of all
In wisdom, his the tripod is, I say.
But some writers have a different account, as follows: War had broken out among the Ionians, and when the tripod was brought up in their seine by some fishermen, they inquired of the god how they might end the war. And the priestess replied Never shall cease the war twixt Meropes
And Iones, until that golden stand
Hephaestus worked with skill ye send away;
And it shall come to that man's dwelling-place
Who in his wisdom hath foreseen the things
That are and likewise things that are to be.

9.3.3The Milesians, wishing to follow the injunction of the oracle, desired to award the prize to Thales of Miletus. But Thales said that he was not the wisest of all and advised them to send it to another and wiser man. And in this manner the other six of the Seven Wise Men likewise rejected the tripod, and it was given to Solon, who was thought to have surpassed all men in both wisdom and understanding. And Solon advised that it be dedicated to Apollo, since he was wiser than all of them.

ch. 4 9.4.1Solon, seeing toward the end of his life how Peisistratus, to please the masses, was playing the demagogue and was on the road to tyranny, ^note tried at first by arguments to turn him from his intention; and when Peisistratus paid no attention to him, he once appeared in the market-place arrayed in full armour, although he was already a very old man. 9.4.2And when the people, the sight being so incongruous, flocked to him, he called upon the citizens to seize their arms and at once make an end of the tyrant. But no man paid any attention to him, all of them concluding that he was mad and some declaring that he was in his dotage. Peisistratus, who had already gathered a guard of a few spearmen, came up to Solon and asked him, "Upon what resources do you rely that you wish to destroy my tyranny?" And when Solon replied, "Upon my old age," Peisistratus, in admiration of his common sense, did him no harm.

ch. 5 9.5.1The man who puts his hands to lawless and unjust deeds may never properly be considered wise.

ch. 6 9.6.1We are told that the Scythian Anacharsis, who took great pride in his wisdom, once came to Pytho and inquired of the oracle who of the Greeks was wiser than he. And the oracle replied: A man of Oeta, Myson, they report,
Is more endowed than thou with prudent brains.
Myson was a Malian and had his home on Mt. Oeta in a village called Chenae.Const. Exc. 4, pp. 281-283.

ch. 7 9.7.1

Myson was a man of Malis who dwelt in a village called Chenae, and he spent his entire time in the country and was unknown to most men. He was included among the Seven Wise Men in the place of Periander of Corinth, who was rejected because he had turned into a harsh tyrant.Const. Exc. 2 (1), p. 217.

ch. 8 9.8.1

Solon was curious to see the place where Myson spent his days, and found him at the threshing-floor fitting a handle to a plow. And to make trial of the man Solon said, "Now is not the season for the plow, Myson." "Not to use it," he replied, "but to make it ready."Const. Exc. 4, p. 283.

ch. 9 9.9.1

In the case of Chilon ^note his life agreed with his teaching, a thing one rarely finds. As for the philosophers of our time, for instance, most of them are to be seen uttering the noblest sentiments, but following the basest practices, and the solemnity and sagacity expressed in their pronouncements are refuted when the speakers are put to the proof. But as for Chilon, not to mention the virtue which he displayed in every deed throughout his life, he thought out and expressed many precepts which are worthy of record.Const. Exc. 2 (1), p. 218.

ch. 10 9.10.1

When Chilon came to Delphi he thought to dedicate to the god the firstlings, as it were, of his own wisdom, and engraved upon a column these three maxims: "Know thyself"; "Nothing overmuch"; and the third, "A pledge, and ruin is nigh." Each of these maxims, though short and laconic, ^note displays deep reflection.