“A fool is known by his Speech; and a wise man by Silence.”
The Sayings of the Wise (1555)
“A fool is known by his Speech; and a wise man by Silence.”
The Sayings of the Wise (1555)
“In anger we should refrain both from speech and action.”
As quoted in Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers, "Pythagoras", Sect. 23–24, as translated in Dictionary of Quotations (1906) by Thomas Benfield Harbottle, p. 370
“Rest satisfied with doing well, and leave others to talk of you as they please.”
As quoted in The World's Laconics: Or, The Best Thoughts of the Best Authors (1853) by Everard Berkeley
Variant: Rest satisfied with doing well, and leave others to talk of you as they will.
“There is geometry in the humming of the strings. There is music in the spacings of the spheres.”
As quoted in the preface of the book entitled Music of the Spheres by Guy Murchie (1961)
The Golden Verses
“The oldest, shortest words— "yes" and "no"— are those which require the most thought.”
As quoted in Numerology for Relationships: A Guide to Birth Numbers (2006) by Vera Kaikobad, p. 78
“Let no one persuade you by word or deed to do or say whatever is not best for you.”
As quoted in Divine Harmony: The Life and Teachings of Pythagoras by John Strohmeier and Peter Westbrook. (1999)
The Golden Verses
Context: Many words befall men, mean and noble alike; do not be astonished by them, nor allow yourself to be constrained.
If a lie is told, bear with it gently.
But whatever I tell you, let it be done completely.
Let no one persuade you by word or deed to do or say whatever is not best for you.
“Choose rather to be strong in soul than in body.”
"Pythagorean Ethical Sentences From Stobæus" (1904)
Choose rather to be strong of soul than strong of body.
As quoted in Florilegium, I.22, as translated in Dictionary of Quotations (1906) by Thomas Benfield Harbottle, p. 396
Florilegium
“As soon as laws are necessary for men, they are no longer fit for freedom.”
As quoted in Short Sayings of Great Men: With Historical and Explanatory Notes (1882) by Samuel Arthur Bent, p. 454
As quoted in A Dictionary of Thoughts: Being a Cyclopedia of Laconic Quotations from the Best Authors of the World, both Ancient and Modern (1908) by Tyron Edwards, p. 101
As quoted in Gems of Thought: Being a Collection of More Than a Thousand Choice Selections, Or Aphorisms, from Nearly Four Hundred and Fifty Different Authors, and on One Hundred and Forty Different Subjects (1888). p. 97 by Charles Northend