{"collection":"philosophy-ethics","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/wikisource_Pythagoras_Source_Book_and_Library_Part_2_Chapter_2/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/wikisource_Pythagoras_Source_Book_and_Library_Part_2_Chapter_2","id":"wikisource_Pythagoras_Source_Book_and_Library_Part_2_Chapter_2","license":"Public Domain / CC-BY-SA (see source)","rights_basis":"wikisource_site_inclusion_policy","source":"wikisource","source_url":"https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Pythagoras_Source_Book_and_Library/Part_2/Chapter_2","summary":null,"tags":["Pages_with_contributor","Subpages","Works_with_reconstructed_words_or_phrases"],"text":"PYTHAGORAS'S GOLDEN VERSES\n\n1 First honor the immortal Gods, as the Law demands;\n\n2 Then reverence thy oath, and then the illustrious heroes;\n\n3 Then venerate the divinities under the earth, due rites performing.\n\n4 Then honor your parents, and all of your kindred;\n\n5 Among others make the most virtuous thy friend!\n\n6 Love to make use of soft speeches, but deeds that are useful;\n\n7 Alienate not the beloved comrade for trifling offences,\n\n8 Bear all you can, what you can, and you should are so near to each other.\n\n9 Take this well to heart: you must gain control of your habits;\n\n10 First over stomach, then sleep, and then luxury,\n\n11 And anger; what brings you shame, do not unto others;\n\n12 Nor by yourself; highest of duties is honor of self.\n\n13 Let justice be practiced in words as in deeds;\n\n14 Then make the habit, never inconsiderately to act;\n\n15 Neither forget that death is appointed to all;\n\n16 That possessions here gladly gathered, there must be lost;\n\n17 Whatever sorrow the fate of the gods may here send us,\n\n18 Bear, whatever may strike you, with patience unmurmuring.\n19 To relieve it, so far as you can, is permitted; but reflect:\n\n20 Not much good has Fate given to the good.\n\n21 The speech of the people is various, now good, and now evil;\n\n22 So let them not frighten you, nor keep you from your purpose.\n\n23 If false calumnies come to your ears, support it in patience;\n\n24 Yet that which I now am declaring, fulfil it full faithfully:\n\n25 Let no one with speech or with deeds e'er deceive you;\n\n26 To do or to say what is not the best.\n\n27 Think, ere you act, that nothing stupid result;\n\n28 To act inconsiderately is part of a fool;\n\n29 Yet whatever later will not bring you repentance, that you should carry through.\n\n30 Do nothing beyond what you know; yet learn\n\n31 What you may need; thus shall your life grow happy.\n\n32 Neither grow anxious about the health of the body;\n\n33 Keep measure in eating and drinking, and every exercise of the body;\n\n34 By measure, I mean what later will not induce pain;\n\n35 Follow clean habits of life, but not the luxurious;\n\n36 Avoid what envy arouses,\n\n37 At the wrong time, never be prodigal, as if you did not know what was proper;\n\n38 Nor show yourself stingy; that which is medium is ever the best.\n\n39 Never let slumber approach thy wearied eye-lids,\n\n40 Ere thrice you review what this day you did:\n42 Wherein have I sinned? What did I? What duty is neglected?\n\n43 All, from the first to the last, review; and if you have erred,\n\n44 Grieve in your spirit, rejoicing for all that was good.\n\n45 With zeal and with industry, this, then, repeat; and learn to repeat it with joy.\n\n46 Thus wilt thou tread on the paths of heavenly virtue,\n\n47 Surely, I swear it by him who into our souls placed the Four (elements),\n\n48 Him who is spring of Nature eternal. Now start on your task\n\n49 After you have implored the blessing of the Gods.\u2014If this you hold fast,\n\n50 Soon will you recognize of Gods and mortal men\n\n51 The peculiar existence, how every thing passes and returns.\n\n52 Then will you see what is true, how Nature in all is most equal,\n\n53 So that you hope not for what has no hope, nor that aught should escape you.\n\n54 Men shall you find whose sorrows themselves have created,\n\n55 Wretches who see not the Good. that is too near,\n\n56 Nothing they hear; few know how to help themselves in misfortune.\n\n57 That is the Fate, that blinds humanity, in circles,\n\n58 Hither and yon, they run, in endless sorrows;\n\n59 For they are followed by a grim companion, disunion within themselves,\n\n60 Unnoticed; ne'er rouse him, and fly from before him!\n\n60 Father Zeus, O free them all from sufferings so great,\n\n62 Or show unto each the Genius, who is their guide!\n\n63 Yet, do not fear, for the mortals are divine by race\n\n64 To whom holy Nature everything will reveal and demonstrate;\n\n65 Whereof if you have received, so keep what I teach you;\n\n66 For I will heal you, and you shall remain insured from manifold evil.\n\n67 Avoid foods forbidden, reflect, that this contributes to the cleanliness\n\n68 And redemption of your soul; This all, oh, consider;\n\n69 Let reason, the gift divine, be thy highest guide;\n\n70 Then should you be separated from the body, and soar in the spiritual aether,\n\n71 Then will you be imperishable, a divinity, no longer a human!","title":"Pythagoras Source Book and Library/Part 2/Chapter 2","tradition":"philosophy-ethics","translated_text":null,"word_count":800}