The Delphic Maxims
The Delphic maxims are a set of 147 aphorisms inscribed at Delphi in Greece. 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 5th century scholar Stobaeus later attributed them to the Seven Sages of Greece. Contemporary scholars, however, hold that their original authorship is uncertain and that "most likely they were popular proverbs, which tended later to be attributed to particular sages." Perhaps the most famous of these maxims is '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.
147 Delphic maxims No. Greek English 001. Επου θεω Follow God 002. Νομω πειθου Obey the law 003. Θεους σεβου Worship the Gods 004. Γονεις αιδου Respect your parents 005. Ηττω υπο δικαιου Be overcome by justice 006. Γνωθι μαθων Know what you have learned 007. Ακουσας νοει Perceive what you have heard 008. Σαυτον γνωθι Know yourself 009. Γαμειν μελλε Intend to get married 010. Καιρον γνωθι Know your opportunity 011. Φρονει θνητα Think as a mortal 012. Ξενος ων ισθι If you are a stranger act like one 013. Εστιαν τιμα Honor the hearth (or Hestia) 014. Αρχε σεαυτου Control yourself 015. Φιλοις βοηθει Help your friends 016. Θυμου κρατει Control anger 017. Φρονησιν ασκει Exercise prudence 018. Προνοιαν τιμα Honor providence 019. Ορκω μη χρω Do not use an oath 020. Φιλιαν αγαπα Love friendship 021. Παιδειας αντεχου Cling to discipline 022. Δοξαν διωκε Pursue honor 023. Σοφιαν ζηλου Long for wisdom 024. Καλον ευ λεγε Praise the good 025. Ψεγε μηδενα Find fault with no one 026. Επαινει αρετην Praise virtue 027. Πραττε δικαια Practice what is just 028. Φιλοις ευνοει Be kind to friends 029. Εχθρους αμυνου Watch out for your enemies 030. Ευγενειαν ασκει Exercise nobility of character 031. Κακιας απεχου Shun evil 032. Κοινος γινου Be impartial 033. Ιδια φυλαττε Guard what is yours 034. Αλλοτριων απεχου Shun what belongs to others 035. Ακουε παντα Listen to everything 036. Ευφημος ιοθι Be (religiously) silent 037. Φιλω χαριζου Do a favor for a friend 038. Μηδεν αγαν Nothing to excess 039. Χρονου φειδου Use time sparingly 040. Ορα το μελλον Foresee the future 041. Υβριν μισει Despise insolence 042. Ικετας αιδου Have respect for suppliants 043. Πασιν αρμοζου Be accommodating in everything 044. Υιους παιδευε Educate your sons 045. Εχων χαριζου Give what you have 046. Δολον φοβου Fear deceit 047. Ευλογει παντας Speak well of everyone 048. Φιλοσοφος γινου Be a seeker of wisdom 049. Οσια κρινε Choose what is divine 050. Γνους πραττε Act when you know 051. Φονου απεχου Shun murder 052. Ευχου δυνατα Pray for things possible 053. Σοφοις χρω Consult the wise 054. Ηθος δοκιμαζε Test the character 055. Λαβων αποδος Give back what you have received 056. Υφορω μηδενα Down-look no one 057. Τεχνη χρω Use your skill 058. Ο μελλεις, δος Do what you mean to do 059. Ευεργεςιας τιμα Honor a benefaction 060. Φθονει μηδενι Be jealous of no one 061. Φυλακη προσεχε Be on your guard 062. Ελπιδα αινει Praise hope 063. Διαβολην μισει Despise a slanderer 064. Δικαιως κτω Gain possessions justly 065. Αγαθους τιμα Honor good men 066. Κριτην γνωθι Know the judge 067. Γαμους κρατει Master wedding-feasts 068. Τυχην νομιζε Recognize fortune 069. Εγγυην φευγε Flee a pledge 070. Αμλως διαλεγου Speak plainly 071. Ομοιοις χρω Associate with your peers 072. Δαπανων αρχου Govern your expenses 073. Κτωμενος ηδου Be happy with what you have 074. Αισχυνην σεβου Revere a sense of shame 075. Χαριν εκτελει Fulfill a favor 076. Ευτυχιαν ευχου Pray for happiness 077. Τυχην στεργε Be fond of fortune 078. Ακουων ορα Observe what you have heard 079. Εργαζου κτητα Work for what you can own 080. Εριν μισει Despise strife 081. Ονειδος εχθαιρε Detest disgrace 082. Γλωτταν ισχε Restrain the tongue 083. Υβριν αμυνου Keep yourself from insolence 084. Κρινε δικαια Make just judgements 085. Χρω χρημασιν Use what you have 086. Αδωροδοκητος δικαζε Judge incorruptibly 087. Αιτιω παροντα Accuse one who is present 088. Λεγε ειδως Tell when you know 089. Βιας μη εχου Do not depend on strength 090. Αλυπως βιου Live without sorrow 091. Ομιλει πραως Live together meekly 092. Περας επιτελει μη αποδειλιων Finish the race without shrinking back 093. Φιλοφρονει πασιν Deal kindly with everyone 094. Υιοις μη καταρω Do not curse your sons 095. Γυναικος αρχε Rule your wife 096. Σεαυτον ευ ποιει Benefit yourself 097. Ευπροσηγορος γινου Be courteous 098. Αποκρινου εν καιρω Give a timely response 099. Πονει μετ ευκλειας Struggle with glory 100. Πραττε αμετανοητως Act without repenting 101. Αμαρτανων μετανοει Repent of sins 102. Οφθαλμου κρατει Control the eye 103. Βουλευου χρονω Give a timely counsel 104. Πραττε συντομως Act quickly 105. Φιλιαν φυλαττε Guard friendship 106. Ευγνωμων γινου Be grateful 107. Ομονοιαν διωκε Pursue harmony 108. Αρρητον κρυπτε Keep deeply the top secret 109. Το κρατουν φοβου Fear ruling 110. Το συμφερον θηρω Pursue what is profitable 111. Καιρον προσδεχου Accept due measure 112. Εχθρας διαλυε Do away with enmities 113. Γηρας προσδεχου Accept old age 114. Επι ρωμη μη καυχω Do not boast in might 115. Ευφημιαν ασκει Exercise (religious) silence 116. Απεχθειαν φευγε Flee enmity 117. Πλουτει δικιως Acquire wealth justly 118. Δοξαν μη λειπε Do not abandon honor 119. Κακιαν μισει Despise evil 120. Κινδυνευε φρονιμως Venture into danger prudently 121. Μανθανων μη καμνε Do not tire of learning 122. Φειδομενος μη λειπε Do not stop to be thrifty 123. Χρησμους θαυμαζε Admire oracles 124. Ους τρεφεις αγαπα Love whom you rear 125. Αποντι μη μαχου Do not oppose someone absent 126. Πρεσβυτερον αιδου Respect the elder 127. Νεωτερον διδασκε Teach a youngster 128. Πλουτω απιστει Do not trust wealth 129. Σεαυτον αιδου Respect yourself 130. Μη αρχε υβριζειν Do not begin to be insolent 131. Προγονους στεφανου Crown your ancestors 132. Θνησκε υπερ πατριδος Die for your country 133 Τω βιω μη αχθου. Do not be discontented by life 134. Επι νεκρω μη γελα Do not make fun of the dead 135. Ατυχουντι συναχθου Share the load of the unfortunate 136. Χαριζου αβλαβως Gratify without harming 137. Μη επι παντι λυπου Grieve for no one 138. Εξ ευγενων γεννα Beget from noble routes 139. Επαγγελου μηδενι Make promises to no one 140. Φθιμενους μη αδικει Do not wrong the dead 141. Ευ πασχε ως θνητος Be well off as a mortal 142. Τυχη μη πιστευε Do not trust fortune 143. Παις ων κοσμιος ισθι As a child be well-behaved 144. Ηβων εγκρατης As a youth be self-disciplined 145. Μεσος δικαιος As of middle-age be just 146. Πρεσβυτης ευλογος As an old man be sensible 147. Τελευτων αλυπος On reaching the end be without sorrow
