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The Pythagorean Sourcebook and Library, translated by Kenneth Sylvan Guthrie, edited by David Fideler

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THE PYTHAGOREAN SOURCEBOOK AND LIBRARY

SELECT PYTHAGOREAN SENTENCES 1. From the Exhortation to Philosophy of Iamblichus 105. As we live through soul, it must be said that by the virtue of this we do live well; just as because we see through the eyes, we see well through their virtues. 106. It must not be thought that gold can be injured by rust, or virtue by baseness. 107. We should betake ourselves to virtue as to an inviolable temple, so that we may not be exposed to any ignoble insolence of soul with respect to our communion with, and continuance in life. 108. We should confide in virtue as in a chaste wife, but trust to fortune as an inconstant mistress. 109. It is better that virtue should be received accompanied by poverty, than wealth with violence; and frugality with health, than voracity with disease. 110. An overabundance of food is harmful to the body, but the body is preserved when the soul is disposed in a becoming manner. 111. It is as dangerous to give power to a depraved man as it is to give a sword to a madman. 112. As it is better for a part of the body that contains purulent decay to be burned than to continue as it is, thus also is it better for a depraved man to die than to continue to live. 113. The theorems of philosophy are to be enjoyed as much as possible, as if they were ambrosia and nectar. For the resultant pleasure is genuine, incorruptible and divine. They are also capable of producing magnanimity, and though they cannot make us eternal, yet they enable us to obtain a scientific knowledge of eternal natures. 114. If vigor of sensation is, as it is, considered to be desirable, so much more strenuously should we endeavor to obtain prudence; for it is, as it
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The Pythagorean Sourcebook and Library, translated by Kenneth Sylvan Guthrie, edited by David Fideler

were, the sensitive vigor of the practical intellect, which we contain. And as through the former we are not deceived in sensible perceptions, so through the latter we avoid false reasonings in practical affairs. 115. We shall properly venerate Divinity if we purify our intellect from vice as from a stain. 116. A temple should, indeed, be adorned with gifts, but the soul with disciplines. 117. As the lesser mysteries are to be delivered before the greater. thus also discipline must precede philosophy. 118. The fruits of the earth, indeed, appear annually, but the fruits of philosophy ripen at all seasons. 119.As he who wishes the best fruit must pay most attention to the land, so must the greatest attention be paid to the soul if it is to produce fruits worthy of its nature. 2. From Stobaeus 120. Do not even think of doing what ought not to be done. 121. Choose rather to be strong in soul than in body. 122. Be sure that laborious things contribute to virtue more than do pleasurable things. 123. Every passion of the soul is most hostile to its salvation. 124. Pythagoras said that it is most difficult simultaneously to walk in many paths of life. 125.Pythagoras said that we must choose the best life, for custom will make it pleasant. Wealth is a weak anchor, glory still weaker, and similarly with the body, dominion, and honor. Which anchors are strong? Prudence, magnanimity and fortitude; these can be shaken by no tempest. This is the law of God: that virtue is the only thing strong, all else is a trifle. 126. All the parts of human life, just as those of a statue, should be beautiful. 127. As a statue stands immovable on its pedestal, so should stand a man on his deliberate choice, if he is worthy. 128. Incense is for the Gods, but praise for good men. 129. Men unfairly accused of acting unjustly should be defended, while
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The Pythagorean Sourcebook and Library, translated by Kenneth Sylvan Guthrie, edited by David Fideler

those who excel should be praised. 130. It is not the sumptuous adornment of the horse that earns him praise, but rather the nature of the horse himself; nor is the man worthy merely because he owns great wealth, but rather because his soul is generous. 131. When the wise man opens his mouth the beauties of his soul present themselves to view as the statues in a temple. 132. Remind yourself that all men assert wisdom is the greatest good, but that there are few who strenuously endeavor to obtain this greatest good. -- Pythagoras. 133. Be sober, and remember to be disposed to believe, for these are the nerves of wisdom. -- Epicharmus. 134. It is better to live lying on the grass, confiding in divinity and yourself, than to lie on a golden bed with perturbation. 135. You will not be in want of anything, which is in the power of Fortune to give or take away. -- Pythagoras. 136. Despise all those things which you will not want when liberated from the body; and exercising yourself in those things of which you will be in want when liberated from the body, be sure to invoke the Gods to become your helpers. Pythagoras. 137. It is as impossible to conceal fire in a garment as a base deviation from rectitude in time. -- Demophilus, rather than Socrates. 138. Wind increases fire, but custom increases love. -- Demophilus, rather than Socrates. 139. Only those are dear to divinity who are hostile to injustice. -Democritus or Demophilus. 140. Bodily necessities are easily procured by anybody without labor or molestation; but those things whose attainment demands effort and trouble are objects of desire not to the body, but to depraved opinion. -Aristoxenus the Pythagorean. 141. Thus spoke Pythagoras of desire: This passion is various, laborious and very multiform. Of desires, however, some are acquired and artificial, while others are inborn. Desire is a certain tendency and impulse of the soul, and an appetite of fullness, or presence of sense, or of an emptiness and absence of it, and of non-perception. The three best known kinds of depraved desire are the improper, the unproportionate, and the unseasonable. For desire is either immediately
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The Pythagorean Sourcebook and Library, translated by Kenneth Sylvan Guthrie, edited by David Fideler

indecorous, troublesome or illiberal; or if not absolutely so, it is improperly vehement and persistent. Or, in the third place, it is impelled at an improper time, or towards improper objects. -- Aristoxenus. 142. Pythagoras said: Endeavor not to conceal your errors by words, but to remedy them by reproofs. 143. Pythagoras said: It is not so difficult to err, as not to reprove him who errs. 144. As a bodily disease cannot be healed, if it is concealed or praised, thus also can neither a remedy be applied to a diseased soul which is badly guarded and protected. -- Pythagoras. 145. The grace of freedom of speech, like beauty in season, is productive of great delight. 146. To have a blunt sword is as improper as to use ineffectual freedom of speech. 147. Neither is the sun to be taken from the world, nor freedom of speech from erudition. 148. As one who is clothed with a cheap robe may have a good habit of body, thus also may he whose life is poor possess freedom of speech. 149. Pythagoras said: Prefer those that reprove to those that flatter; but avoid flatterers as much as enemies. 150. The life of the avaricious resembles a funeral banquet. For though it has all desirable elements no one rejoices. 151. Pythagoras said: Acquire continence as the greatest strength and wealth. 152. "Not frequently man from man," is one of the exhortations of Pythagoras, by which obscurely he signifies that it is not proper frequently to engage sexual connections. 153. Pythagoras said: A slave to his passions cannot possibly be free. 154. Pythagoras said that intoxication is the preparation for insanity. 155. On being asked how a wine-lover might be cured of intoxication Pythagoras said, "If he frequently considers what were his actions during intoxication." 156. Pythagoras said that unless you had something better than silence to say, you had better keep silence.
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The Pythagorean Sourcebook and Library, translated by Kenneth Sylvan Guthrie, edited by David Fideler

157. Pythagoras said that rather than utter an idle word you had better throw a stone in vain. 158. Pythagoras said, "Say not few things in many words, but much in few words." 159. Epicharmus said, "To men genius is a divinity, either good or evil." 160. On being asked how a man ought to behave towards his country when it had acted unjustly towards him, Pythagoras said, "As to a mother." 161. Traveling teaches a man frugality and self-sufficiency. The sweetest remedies for hunger and weariness are bread made of milk and flour, on a bed of grass. -- Attributed to Democritus, but probably Democrates or Demophilus. 162.Every land is equally suitable as a residence for the wise man; the worthy soul's fatherland is the whole world. Ibid. 163. Pythagoras said that into cities enter first, luxury; then being glutted; then lascivious insolence; and last, destruction. 164. Pythagoras said that the best city was that which contained the worthiest man. 165. "You should do those things that you judge to be beautiful, though in doing them you should lack renown, for the rabble is a bad judge of a good thing. Wherefore despise the reprehension of those whose praise you despise." -- Pythagoras. 166. Pythagoras said that "Those who do not punish bad men are really wishing that good men be injured." 167. Pythagoras said, "Not without a bridle can a horse be governed, and no less riches without prudence." 168. The prosperous man who is vain is no better than the driver of a race on a slippery road. -- Attributed to Socrates, but probably Democrates or Demophilus. 169. There is not any gate of wealth so secure which the opportunity of Fortune may not open. -- Attributed to Democritus, but probably Democrates or Demophilus. 170. The unrestrained grief of a torpid soul may be expelled by reasoning. -- Democrates, not Democritus. 171. Poverty should be born with equanimity by a wise man. -Democrates, not Democritus.
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The Pythagorean Sourcebook and Library, translated by Kenneth Sylvan Guthrie, edited by David Fideler

172. Pythagoras said: Spare your life, lest you consume it with sorrow and care. 173. Favorinus, in speaking of old age, said, "Nor will I be silent as to this particular, that both to Plato and Pythagoras it appeared that old age was not to be considered with reference to an egress from the present life, but to the beginning of a blessed one." 3. From Clement of Alexandria, Stromateis, Book 3. 174. Philolaus said that the ancient theologians and priests testified that the soul is united to the body as through a cenain punishment, and that it is buried in this body as a sepulchre. 175. Pythagoras said that "Whatever we see when awake is death, and when asleep is a dream." Go to Next Page

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