The Delphi Maxims | Pearls Of Wisdom

147 Delphic maxims

The Delphic maxims are a set of maxims inscribed on the Temple of Apollo at Delphi. Originally, they were said to have been given by the Greek god Apollo's Oracle at Delphi, Pythia, and therefore were attributed to Apollo.

The 3rd century doxographer Diogenes Laertius attributed them to the Seven Sages of Greece as did the 5th century scholar Stobaeus. 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."

Roman educator Quintilian argued that students should copy those aphorisms often to improve their moral core.

Perhaps the most famous of these maxims is 'know thyself,' which was the first of three maxims carved above the entrance to the Temple of Apollo at Delphi. The specific order and wording of each maxim varies among different versions of the text. Not all maxims appear in all versions.   Wikipedia

While some modern scholars argue that their original authorship is uncertain and that “most likely they were popular proverbs that were later ascribed to particular sages”, there is no evidence of that. There has been nothing written to suggest that these maxims were somehow a collection of ancient proverbs and sayings passed down through some oral tradition over thousands or even hundreds of years.

We have to notice that the Greek word that translated as “Maxims” is “Παραγγέλματα”(paragelmata) which literally means “messages”. So, the Maxims are not to be taken as commandments. We have to consider them more as guidelines and advice which leads to the ideal goal of all Greek philosophy, the achievement of Eudemonia.

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