Muni's PlayDelphic Maxims
The Delphic Maxims are a set of 147 aphorisms inscribed at the Temple of Apollo at Delphi.
| # | Greek | Transliteration | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ἕπου θεῷ | Hépou theôi | Follow the gods |
| 2 | Νόμῳ πείθου | Nómōi peíthou | Obey the law |
| 3 | Θεοὺς σέβου | Theoùs sébou | Worship the gods |
| 4 | Γονεῖς αἰδοῦ | Goneîs aidoû | Respect your parents |
| 5 | Ἡττῶ ὑπὸ δικαίου | Hēttô hupò dikaíou | Be overcome by justice |
| 6 | Γνῶθι μαθών | Gnôthi mathṓn | Know what you have learned |
| 7 | Ἀκούσας νόει | Akoúsas nóei | Perceive what you have heard |
| 8 | Σαυτὸν ἴσθι | Sautòn ísthi | Be yourself |
| 9 | Γαμεῖν μέλλε | Gameîn mélle | Intend to get married |
| 10 | Καιρὸν γνῶθι | Kairòn gnôthi | Know your opportunity |
| 11 | Φρόνει θνητά | Phrónei thnētá | Think as a mortal |
| 12 | Ξένος ὢν ἴσθι | Xénos ṑn ísthi | If you are a stranger act like one |
| 13 | Ἑστίαν τίμα | Hestían τίma | Honour the hearth (or Hestia) |
| 14 | Ἄρχε σεαυτοῦ | Árkhe seautoû | Control yourself |
| 15 | Φίλοις βοήθει | Phílois boḗthei | Help your friends |
| 16 | Θυμοῦ κράτει | Thumoû krátei | Control anger |
| 17 | Φρόνησιν ἄσκει | Phrónēsin áskei | Exercise prudence |
| 18 | Πρόνοιαν τίμα | Prónoian τίma | Honour providence |
| 19 | Ὅρκῳ μὴ χρῶ | Hórkōi mḕ khrô | Do not use an oath |
| 20 | Φιλίαν ἀγάπα | Philían agápa | Love friendship |
| 21 | Παιδείας ἀντέχου | Paideías antékhou | Cling to discipline |
| 22 | Δόξαν δίωκε | Dóxan díōke | Pursue honour |
| 23 | Σοφίαν ζήλου | Sophían ζḗlou | Long for wisdom |
| 24 | Καλὸν εὖ λέγε | Kalòn eû lége | Praise the good |
| 25 | Ψέγε μηδένα | Psége mēdéna | Find fault with no one |
| 26 | Ἐπαίνει ἀρετήν | Epaínei aretḗn | Praise virtue |
| 27 | Πρᾶττε δίκαια | Prâtte díkaia | Practice what is just |
| 28 | Φίλοις εὐνόει | Phílois eunóei | Be kind to your friends |
| 29 | Ἐχθροὺς ἀμύνου | Ekhthroùs amúnou | Watch out for your enemies |
| 30 | Εὐγένειαν ἄσκει | Eugéneian áskei | Exercise nobility of character |
| 31 | Κακίας ἀπέχου | Kakías apékhou | Shun evil |
| 32 | Κοινὸς γίνου | Koinòs gίνου | Be impartial |
| 33 | Ἴδια φύλαττε | Ídia phúlatte | Guard what is yours |
| 34 | Ἀλλοτρίων ἀπέχου | Allotríōn apékhou | Shun what belongs to others |
| 35 | Ἄκουε πάντα | Ákoue pánta | Listen to everyone |
| 36 | Εὔφημος ἴσθι | Eúphēmos ísthi | Be (religiously) silent |
| 37 | Φίλῳ χαρίζου | Phílōi kharízou | Do a favour for a friend |
| 38 | Μηδὲν ἄγαν | Mēdèn ágan | Nothing to excess |
| 39 | Χρόνου φείδου | Khrónou pheídou | Use time sparingly |
| 40 | Ὅρα τὸ μέλλον | Hóra tò méllon | Foresee the future |
| 41 | Ὕβριν μίσει | Húbrin mísei | Despise insolence |
| 42 | Ἱκέτας αἰδοῦ | Hikétas aidoû | Have respect for suppliants |
| 43 | Πᾶσιν ἁρμόζου | Pâsin harmózou | Be accommodated in everything |
| 44 | Υἱοὺς παίδευε | Huioùs paídeue | Educate your sons |
| 45 | Ἔχων χαρίζου | Ékhōn kharízou | Give what you have |
| 46 | Δόλον φοβοῦ | Dólon phoboû | Fear deceit |
| 47 | Εὐλόγει πάντας | Eulógei pántas | Speak well of everyone |
| 48 | Φιλόσοφος γίνου | Philósophos gίνου | Be a seeker of wisdom |
| 49 | Ὅσια κρῖνε | Hósia krîne | Choose what is divine |
| 50 | Γνοὺς πρᾶττε | Gnoùs prâtte | Act when you know |
| 51 | Φόνου ἀπέχου | Phónou apékhou | Shun murder |
| 52 | Εὔχου δυνατά | Eúkhou dunatá | Pray for things possible |
| 53 | Σοφοῖς χρῶ | Sophoîs khrô | Consult the wise |
| 54 | Ἦθος δοκίμαζε | Êthos dokímaze | Test the character |
| 55 | Λαβὼν ἀπόδος | Labṑn apódos | Give back what you have received |
| 56 | Ὑφορῶ μηδένα | Huphorô mēdéna | Look down on no one |
| 57 | Τέχνῃ χρῶ | Tékhnēi khrô | Use your skill |
| 58 | Ὃ μέλλεις, δός | Hò mélleis, dós | Do what you mean to do |
| 59 | Εὐεργεσίας τίμα | Euergesías τίma | Honour a benefaction |
| 60 | Φθόνει μηδενί | Phthónei mēdení | Be jealous of no one |
| 61 | Φυλακῇ πρόσεχε | Phulakêi prósekhe | Be on your guard |
| 62 | Ἐλπίδα αἴνει | Elpída aínei | Praise hope |
| 63 | Διαβολὴν μίσει | Diabolḕn mísei | Despise a slanderer |
| 64 | Δικαίως κτῶ | Dikaíōs ktô | Gain possessions justly |
| 65 | Ἀγαθοὺς τίμα | Agathoùs τίma | Honour good men |
| 66 | Κριτὴν γνῶθι | Kritḕn gnôthi | Know the judge |
| 67 | Γάμους κράτει | Gámous krátei | Master wedding-feasts |
| 68 | Τύχην νόμιζε | Túkhēn nómize | Recognize fortune |
| 69 | Ἐγγύην φεῦγε | Engúēn pheûge | Flee a pledge |
| 70 | Ἁπλῶς διαλέγου | Haplôs dialégou | Speak plainly |
| 71 | Ὁμοίοις χρῶ | Homoíois khrô | Associate with your peers |
| 72 | Δαπανῶν ἄρχου | Dapanôn árkhou | Govern your expenses |
| 73 | Κτώμενος ἥδου | Ktṓmenos hḗdou | Be happy with what you have |
| 74 | Αἰσχύνην σέβου | Aiskhúnēn sébou | Revere a sense of shame |
| 75 | Χάριν ἐκτέλει | Khárin ektélei | Fulfill a favour |
| 76 | Εὐτυχίαν εὔχου | Eutukhían eúkhou | Pray for happiness |
| 77 | Τύχην στέργε | Túkhēn stérge | Be fond of fortune |
| 78 | Ἀκούων ὅρα | Akoúōn hóra | Observe what you have heard |
| 79 | Ἐργάζου κτητά | Ergázou ktētá | Work for what you can own |
| 80 | Ἔριν μίσει | Érin mísei | Despise strife |
| 81 | Ὄνειδος ἔχθαιρε | Óneidos ékhthaire | Detest disgrace |
| 82 | Γλῶτταν ἴσχε | Glôttan ískhe | Restrain the tongue |
| 83 | Ὕβριν ἀμύνου | Húbrin amúnou | Keep yourself from insolence |
| 84 | Κρῖνε δίκαια | Krîne díkaia | Make just judgements |
| 85 | Χρῶ χρήμασιν | Khrô khrḗmasin | Use what you have |
| 86 | Ἀδωροδόκητος δίκαζε | Adōrodókētos díkaze | Judge incorruptibly |
| 87 | Αἰτιῶ παρόντα | Aitiô parónta | Accuse one who is present |
| 88 | Λέγε εἰδώς | Lége eidṓs | Tell when you know |
| 89 | Βίας μὴ ἔχου | Bías mḕ ékhou | Do not depend on strength |
| 90 | Ἀλύπως βίου | Alúpōs bíou | Live without sorrow |
| 91 | Ὁμίλει πρᾴως | Homílei prā́iōs | Live together meekly |
| 92 | Πέρας ἐπιτέλει μὴ ἀποδειλιῶν | Péras epitélei mḕ apodeiliôn | Finish the race without shrinking back |
| 93 | Φιλοφρόνει πᾶσιν | Philophrónei pâsin | Deal kindly with everyone |
| 94 | Υἱοῖς μὴ καταρῶ | Huioîs mḕ katarô | Do not curse your sons |
| 95 | Γυναικὸς ἄρχε | Gunaikòs árkhe | Rule your wife |
| 96 | Σεαυτὸν εὖ ποίει | Seautòn eû poíei | Benefit yourself |
| 97 | Εὐπροσήγορος γίνου | Euprosḗgoros gίνου | Be courteous |
| 98 | Ἀποκρίνου ἐν καιρῷ | Apokrínou en kairôi | Give a timely response |
| 99 | Πόνει μετ’ εὐκλείας | Pónei met’ eukleías | Struggle with glory |
| 100 | Πρᾶττε ἀμετανοήτως | Prâtte ametanoḗtōs | Act without repenting |
| 101 | Ἁμαρτάνων μετανόει | Hamartánōn metanóei | Repent of sins |
| 102 | Ὀφθαλμοῦ κράτει | Ophthalmoû krátei | Control the eye |
| 103 | Βουλεύου χρόνῳ | Bouleúou khrónōi | Give a timely counsel |
| 104 | Πρᾶττε συντόμως | Prâtte suntómōs | Act quickly |
| 105 | Φιλίαν φύλαττε | Philían phúlatte | Guard friendship |
| 106 | Εὐγνώμων γίνου | Eugnṓmōn gίνου | Be grateful |
| 107 | Ὁμόνοιαν δίωκε | Homónoian díōke | Pursue harmony |
| 108 | Ἄρρητον κρύπτε | Árrhēton krúpte | Keep deeply the top secret |
| 109 | Τὸ κρατοῦν φοβοῦ | Tò kratoûn phoboû | Fear ruling |
| 110 | Τὸ συμφέρον θηρῶ | Tò sumphéron thērô | Pursue what is profitable |
| 111 | Καιρὸν προσδέχου | Kairòn prosdékhou | Accept due measure |
| 112 | Ἔχθρας διάλυε | Ékhthras diálue | Do away with enmities |
| 113 | Γῆρας προσδέχου | Gêras prosdékhou | Accept old age |
| 114 | Ἐπὶ ῥώμῃ μὴ καυχῶ | Epì rhṓmēi mḕ kaukhô | Do not boast in might |
| 115 | Εὐφημίαν ἄσκει | Euphēmían áskei | Exercise (religious) silence |
| 116 | Ἀπέχθειαν φεῦγε | Apékhtheian pheûge | Flee enmity |
| 117 | Πλούτει δικαίως | Ploútei dikaíōs | Acquire wealth justly |
| 118 | Δόξαν μὴ λεῖπε | Dóxan mḕ leîpe | Do not abandon honour |
| 119 | Κακίαν μίσει | Kakían mísei | Despise evil |
| 120 | Κινδύνευε φρονίμως | Kindúneue phronímōs | Venture into danger prudently |
| 121 | Μανθάνων μὴ κάμνε | Manthánōn mḕ kámne | Do not tire of learning |
| 122 | Φειδόμενος μὴ λεῖπε | Pheidómenos mḕ leîpe | Do not stop to be thrifty |
| 123 | Χρησμοὺς θαύμαζε | Khrēsmoùs thaúmaze | Admire oracles |
| 124 | Οὓς τρέφεις, ἀγάπα | Hoùs trépheis, agápa | Love whom you rear |
| 125 | Ἀπόντι μὴ μάχου | Apónti mḕ mákhou | Do not oppose someone absent |
| 126 | Πρεσβύτερον αἰδοῦ | Presbúteron aidoû | Respect an elder |
| 127 | Νεώτερον δίδασκε | Neṓteron dídaske | Teach a youngster |
| 128 | Πλούτῳ ἀπίστει | Ploútōi apístei | Do not trust wealth |
| 129 | Σεαυτὸν αἰδοῦ | Seautòn aidoû | Respect yourself |
| 130 | Μὴ ἄρχε ὑβρίζειν | Mḕ árkhe hubrízein | Do not begin to be insolent |
| 131 | Προγόνους στεφάνου | Progónous stephánou | Crown your ancestors |
| 132 | Θνῆσκε ὑπὲρ πατρίδος | Thnêske hupèr patrídos | Die for your country |
| 133 | Τῷ βίῳ μὴ ἄχθου | Tôi bíōi mḕ ákhthou | Do not be discontented by life |
| 134 | Ἐπὶ νεκρῷ μὴ γέλα | Epì nekrôi mḕ géla | Do not make fun of the dead |
| 135 | Ἀτυχοῦντι συνάχθου | Atukhoûnti sunákhthou | Share the load of the unfortunate |
| 136 | Χαρίζου ἀβλαβῶς | Kharízou ablabôs | Gratify without harming |
| 137 | Μὴ ἐπὶ παντὶ λυποῦ | Mḕ epì pantì lupoû | Grieve for no one |
| 138 | Ἐξ εὐγενῶν γέννα | Ex eugenôn génna | Beget from noble routes |
| 139 | Ἐπαγγέλλου μηδενί | Epangéllou mēdení | Make promises to no one |
| 140 | Φθιμένους μὴ ἀδίκει | Phthiménous mḕ adíkei | Do not wrong the dead |
| 141 | Εὖ πάσχε ὡς θνητός | Eû páskhe hōs thnētós | Be well off as a mortal |
| 142 | Τύχῃ μὴ πίστευε | Túkhēi mḕ písteue | Do not trust fortune |
| 143 | Παῖς ὢν κόσμιος ἴσθι | Paîs ṑn kósmios ísthi | As a child be well-behaved |
| 144 | Ἡβῶν ἐγκρατής | Hēbôn enkratḗs | As a youth—self-disciplined |
| 145 | Μέσος δίκαιος | Mésos díkaios | As of middle-aged—just |
| 146 | Πρεσβύτης εὔλογος | Presbútēs eúlogos | As an old man—sensible |
| 147 | Τελευτῶν ἄλυπος | Teleutôn álupos | On reaching the end—without sorrow |