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More than ‘know thyself’: on all the other Delphic maxims

aeon.co

11–20 of 21 posts

Re: More than ‘know thyself’: on all the other Delphic maxims

#11

All 147 maxims are available here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delphic_maxims#147_Delphic_max... The last is, fittingly, the most meaningful of them all: On reaching the end be without sorrow.

I love the self-serving one - 'Admire Oracles'. Heh, and add 'deposit your wallet in the bin on your way out!'

Re: More than ‘know thyself’: on all the other Delphic maxims

#12

All 147 maxims are available here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delphic_maxims#147_Delphic_max... The last is, fittingly, the most meaningful of them all: On reaching the end be without sorrow.

"Do not stop to be thrifty" -- I imagine that should be "Do not stop being thrifty"? "Master wedding-feasts" -- what does that mean? "Grieve for no one" seems odd.

> Do not stop to be thrifty

I think this might be a mistranslation. Maxim #118 has the same last two words in Greek, and is translated as "Do not abandon honor". So #122 is probably better translated as "Do not abandon thrift", or "Do not forget to be thrifty", or something like that.

Re: More than ‘know thyself’: on all the other Delphic maxims

#13

All 147 maxims are available here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delphic_maxims#147_Delphic_max... The last is, fittingly, the most meaningful of them all: On reaching the end be without sorrow.

I love the self-serving one - 'Admire Oracles'. Heh, and add 'deposit your wallet in the bin on your way out!'

Χρησμός refers to the oracular speech itself, not to the person or the institution. So it's closer to "Heed these words (of wisdom)."

That said, oracles were definitely not shy of making money.

Re: More than ‘know thyself’: on all the other Delphic maxims

#14
post #9
post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The phrase is: "Ἐξ εὐγενῶν γέννα" Which roughly means "seek to become relatives with noble people" or alternatively "seek to create with noble ingredients"

Definitely the latter. One could almost paraphrase as “the ends reflect the means... therefore use noble means”

well techically it talks about the beginning and the means. In any case how can we be sure it's not the first ?

Re: More than ‘know thyself’: on all the other Delphic maxims

#15

All 147 maxims are available here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delphic_maxims#147_Delphic_max... The last is, fittingly, the most meaningful of them all: On reaching the end be without sorrow.

I'm curious if anyone knows if there is a significant difference between #36 "Be (religiously) silent" and #115 "Exercise (religious) silence."

Re: More than ‘know thyself’: on all the other Delphic maxims

#16

"Master wedding-feasts" A maxim about Ancient Greek wedding crashers? "Admire oracles" - Ha ha! "Keep deeply the top secret" - how is this one simply baffling (per the article)? I'm not sure if they are referring to religious secrets or state secrets, but either way, how is encouraging people to keep secrets baffling?

Not just any secrets, though, but the singular top secret in particular.

Re: More than ‘know thyself’: on all the other Delphic maxims

#17

"Master wedding-feasts" A maxim about Ancient Greek wedding crashers? "Admire oracles" - Ha ha! "Keep deeply the top secret" - how is this one simply baffling (per the article)? I'm not sure if they are referring to religious secrets or state secrets, but either way, how is encouraging people to keep secrets baffling?

Not just any secrets, though, but the singular top secret in particular.

An interesting translation question of "top secret" used as a phrase here, as in "Top Secret", by a translator looking for "Confidential" or similar English relative word, or if it is a matter of "top" as in biggest/most important single secret.

Also, yes, it took the English language many years to come up with the pithier "Loose lips sink ships".

Re: More than ‘know thyself’: on all the other Delphic maxims

#18

All 147 maxims are available here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delphic_maxims#147_Delphic_max... The last is, fittingly, the most meaningful of them all: On reaching the end be without sorrow.

I'm curious if anyone knows if there is a significant difference between #36 "Be (religiously) silent" and #115 "Exercise (religious) silence."

inner silence vs quietude

Re: More than ‘know thyself’: on all the other Delphic maxims

#19

"Master wedding-feasts" A maxim about Ancient Greek wedding crashers? "Admire oracles" - Ha ha! "Keep deeply the top secret" - how is this one simply baffling (per the article)? I'm not sure if they are referring to religious secrets or state secrets, but either way, how is encouraging people to keep secrets baffling?

Not just any secrets, though, but the singular top secret in particular.

The root certificate

Re: More than ‘know thyself’: on all the other Delphic maxims

#20

"Master wedding-feasts" A maxim about Ancient Greek wedding crashers? "Admire oracles" - Ha ha! "Keep deeply the top secret" - how is this one simply baffling (per the article)? I'm not sure if they are referring to religious secrets or state secrets, but either way, how is encouraging people to keep secrets baffling?

Ἄρρητον means "what is not to be spoken". I'd say the maxim is purposely ambiguous rather than baffling. It could mean "shameful", "horrible", or "sacred".
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