Pythagoras: Thing

“It is better wither to be silent, or to say things of more value than silence.”

Pythagoras

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. 525
Context: It is better wither to be silent, or to say things of more value than silence. Sooner throw a pearl at hazard than an idle or useless word; and do not say a little in many words, but a great deal in a few.

Silence

“It is only necessary to make war with five things; with the maladies of the body, the ignorances of the mind, with the passions of the body, with the seditions of the city and the discords of families.”

Pythagoras

As quoted in The Biblical Museum: A Collection of Notes Explanatory, Homiletic, and Illustrative on the Holy Scriptures, Especially Designed for the Use of Ministers, Bible-students, and Sunday-school Teachers (1873) http://books.google.com/books?id=aJ8CAAAAQAAJ&pg=RA1-PA331&dq=%22only+necessary+to+make+war+with+five+things%22&ei=8jG1SZKiIIGklQTL0KHHDg by James Comper Gray, Vol. V

War , Family , Passion

“Wish not the thing, which thou mayest not obtain!”

Pythagoras

The Sayings of the Wise (1555)

“Despise all those things which when liberated from the body you will not want; invoke the Gods to become your helpers.”

Pythagoras

"Pythagorean Ethical Sentences From Stobæus" (1904)
Florilegium

God

“Holding fast to these things, you will know the worlds of gods and mortals which permeates and governs everything. And you will know, as is right, nature similar in all respects, so that you will neither entertain unreasonable hopes nor be neglectful of anything.”

Pythagoras

As quoted in Divine Harmony: The Life and Teachings of Pythagoras by John Strohmeier and Peter Westbrook. (1999)
The Golden Verses

God , World , Hope , Nature

“Work at these things, practice them, these are the things you ought to desire; they are what will put you on the path of divine virtue — yes, by the one who entrusted our soul with the tetraktys, source of ever-flowing nature. Pray to the gods for success and get to work.”

Pythagoras

As quoted in Divine Harmony: The Life and Teachings of Pythagoras by John Strohmeier and Peter Westbrook. (1999)
The Golden Verses

God , Soul , Nature , Success

“Above all things, respect yourself.”

Pythagoras

Variant translations:
Respect yourself above all.
As quoted in Divine Harmony: The Life and Teachings of Pythagoras http://www.sacredscience.com/pythagoras.htm by John Strohmeier and Peter Westbrook. (1999)
Above all things reverence thy self.
Above all things, respect yourself.
Above the cloud with its shadow is the star with its light. Above all things reverence thyself.
The Golden Verses
Variant: Above all things reverence thy Self.

“Friends share all things.”

Pythagoras

As quoted in Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers, "Pythagoras", Sect. 10

“If thy fellows hurt thee in small things, suffer it! and be as bold with them!”

Pythagoras

The Sayings of the Wise (1555)

Suffering , Hurt

“A good Soul hath neither too great joy, nor too great sorrow: for it rejoiceth in goodness; and it sorroweth in wickedness. By the means whereof, when it beholdeth all things, and seeth the good and bad so mingled together, it can neither rejoice greatly; nor be grieved with over much sorrow.”

Pythagoras

The Sayings of the Wise (1555)

Soul , Joy

“When going to the temple to adore Divinity neither say nor do any thing in the interim pertaining to the common affairs of life.”

Pythagoras

Symbol 1
The Symbols

Life

“Dispose thy Soul to all good and necessary things!”

Pythagoras

The Sayings of the Wise (1555)

Soul

“Govern your tongue before all other things, following the gods.”

Pythagoras

Symbol 7
The Symbols

God

“Above and before all things, worship GOD!”

Pythagoras

As quoted in The Sayings of the Wise: Or, Food for Thought: A Book of Moral Wisdom, Gathered from the Ancient Philosophers (1555) by William Baldwin [1908 edition]
Variant translation: Honor first the immortal gods, in the manner prescribed, and respect the oath.
Next, honor the reverent heroes and the spirits of the dead by making the traditional sacrifices.
Honor your parents and your relatives. As for others, befriend whoever excels in virtue.
Yield to kind words and helpful deeds, and do not hate your friend for a trifling fault as you are able. For ability is near to necessity.
As quoted in Divine Harmony: The Life and Teachings of Pythagoras by John Strohmeier and Peter Westbrook. (1999) ISBN 0-9653774-5-8
The Golden Verses

God

“The most momentous thing in human life is the art of winning the soul to good or to evil.”

Pythagoras

As quoted in Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers, as translated by Robert Drew Hicks (1925)
Variant translation: The most momentous thing in human life is the art of winning the soul to good or evil.
As quoted in Ionia, a Quest (1954) by Freya Stark, p. 94

Life , Art , Soul , Evil