Aug 29, 2024
A Stoic Breviary
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A Stoic Breviary
εὐσέβειαν ἀσκεῖν. σωφροσύνην φιλεῖν
- Pittacus
Make piety a habit. Love wisdom.
Sayings of Pittacus
Pittacus of Mytilene (c. 640-568 BC) was considered one of the Seven Sages of Greece, a collection of statesmen and philosophers who were especially admired for offering wisdom and establishing justice.
We now have only a smattering of sayings attributed to him, though we know from the historians that he saved his people from a bloody war by challenging and defeating the Athenian general in single combat. He was made absolute ruler as a reward for his service, a position which he used to reform the laws for the benefit of the people. Considering his work done, he resigned his authority after ten years and returned to a private life.
Much like Cincinnatus, Pittacus appears to be one of those extremely rare men who possessed the character to be a benevolent "tyrant", and was not corrupted by the acquisition of power.
Forgiveness is better than revenge.
It is better to pardon now than to repent later.
Whatever you do, do it well.
Power shows the man.
Even the gods cannot strive against necessity.
It is difficult for man to be genuinely good.
Achieve victories without blood.
Practice piety.
Love temperance.
Do not reproach a man with his misfortunes, fearing lest Nemesis may overtake you.
Do not say beforehand what you are going to do; for if you fail, you will be laughed at.
Forbear to speak evil not only of your friends, but also of your enemies.
Cultivate truth, good faith, experience, cleverness, sociability, and industry.
Know your opportunity.
Whatever you rebuke your neighbor for, do not do it yourself.
What is agreeable? Time. Obscure? The future. Trustworthy? The earth. Untrustworthy? The sea.
Duly restore what has been entrusted to you.
It is for wise men to forsee, before the difficult things come, so that they do not happen. It is for the brave to face them, should they happen.
Συγγνώμη τιμωρίας κρείσσων.
- Pittacus of Mytilene
Forgiveness is better than revenge.
Do I want to take time out of my workout routine to babysit Johnny?
εὐσέβειαν ἀσκεῖν. σωφροσύνην φιλεῖν
- Pittacus, Lives of the Eminent Philosophers, 1.78.6
Make piety a habit. Love wisdom.
Τας νίκας άνευ αίματος ποιείσθαι.
- Pittacus of Mytilene
Achieve your victories without blood.
We don’t have to be defined by the things we did or didn’t do in our past.
Pittacus Lore, I Am Number Four