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Wisdom of the Ancients

Thales, the father of Greek philosophy, and greatest of the seven wise men, lived in the seventh century B. c. The sayings ascribed to him by Diogenes Laertius are interesting, as a means of comparing the wisdom of that day with that of our own time. Thales gave thanks to Fortune for three things: that he was a man, and not a beast; that he was a man, and not a woman; and that he was a Grecian, and not a Barbarian. It was he who said "Know thyself." "Few words are the sign of a prudent judgment." "Search after wisdom, and choose what is most worthy; so shalt thou stop the mouths of slanderers and tale-bearers." "God is the most ancient of beings, for he had no beginning." "There is nothing more beautiful than the world." " "The widest thing is place, for it contains all things." "The mind is the swiftest thing, for it surveys all things in a moment." "The strongest thing, necessity, for it overcomes all things." "The wisest thing, time, for it invents and discovers all things." Being asked, "Whether the crimes of bad men were concealed from the gods?" he said, "No, nor their thoughts either." To other questions he replied that "Perjury was worse than adultery;" that "The hardest thing in the world is to know oneself; ""The easiest thing in the world is to admonish another;" that "The rarest sight was a tyrant stricken in years; that "A man might easily brook misfortune, if he saw his enemies in a worse condition;" that "We can live most justly and honestly, if we do not act ourselves what we reprehend in others;" that "He is happy who is healthy in body, wealthy in fortune, and well furnished with parts and learning," "Be equally mindful of absent and present friends;" "Do not study to beautify the person, but embellish the mind;" "Do not seek riches by unlawful gains; " " Parents may expect from their children the same duties which they had paid to their parents;" In youth, being urged to marry, he said, "It was too soon; " later, being again urged, he said, "It was too late." nials.