Delphic Maxims, Ranked
- Deal kindly with everyone
- Pursue harmony
- Be grateful
- Yield to justice
- Reach the end without sorrow
- Gratify without harming
- Love friendship
- Control anger
- Having heard, perceive
- Shun murder
- Be happy with what you have
- In middle age, be just
- Share the load of the unfortunate
- Love those you raise
- Accept old age
- Think as a mortal; be prudent like one who can die
- When an elder, be reasonable
- Exercise prudence
- Guard friendship
- Govern yourself
- If you are a stranger act like one
- Do not tire of learning
- Despise evil
- Do not oppose someone who is absent
- Be yourself
- Venture into danger prudently
- Flee hatred
- Shun evil
- Be courteous
- Be jealous of no one
- Give timely counsel
- Seek wisdom
- Know your opportunity
- Do not abandon honor
- Don't look down on anyone
- Consult the wise
- Do not boast about your strength
- Do not act in a way that curses your descendents
- Praise the good
- Praise virtue
- Practice what is just
- Be impartial
- Speak well of everyone
- Accept due measure; wait for the right moment
- Do not be discontented with your manner of living
- Fear power
- Finish without timidity
- Listen to all
- Treat yourself well
- Give back what you have received
- Give what you have
- Let go of enmity
- Respect an elder
- Exercise nobility of character
- Revere the shame that leads to admission of wrongdoing
- Know what you have learned
- Be kind to your friends
- Master the eye
- Acquire wealth justly
- Gain possessions justly
- Do not trust fortune
- Teach the young
- Respect yourself
- Do what you mean to do
- Use your skill
- Adapt to everything
- Do not trust wealth
- Act with constancy
- Repent when failing of your purpose
- Shun what belongs to others
- Obey the law
- Nothing to excess
- Honor good men
- Give a timely response
- Despise a slanderer
- Have respect for suppliants
- Use time sparingly
- Govern your expenses
- Fulfill a promise
- Watch out for your enemies
- Restrain the tongue
- Do not depend on strength
- Speak plainly
- Educate your sons
- Tell when you know
- Accuse only one who is present
- Use what you have
- Pursue the profitable
- Fulfill a favor
- Make just judgments
- Work for what you can own
- Observe what you have heard
- Be fond of fortune
- Pray for happiness
- Keep hidden that which should not be spoken
- Find fault with no one
- Do a favor for a friend
- Respect your parents
- Fear deceit
- Be on your guard
- Praise hope
- Act quickly
- As a youth, be self-disciplined
- Make no public promises
- Do not stop being thrifty
- Admire oracles (Ed. note: this seems frankly self-serving)
- Don't be the leader in insolence
- Struggle with glory
- Cling to discipline
- Live together meekly
- Despise disgrace
- Keep yourself from insolence
- Judge incorruptibly
- Live without sorrow
- Acknowledge fortune
- As a child, be well-behaved
- Flee a pledge
- Honor benefaction
- Act when you know
- Test the character
- Do not insult the dead
- Honor providence
- Do not be unjust to the dead
- Act when you know
- Foresee the future
- Despise insolence
- Speak the possible
- Choose the divine
- Practice auspicious speech
- Be well off as a mortal
- Crown your ancestors
- Grieve for no one
- Guard what is yours
- Associate with your equals
- Do not use an oath
- Honour the hearth
- Know the judge
- Worship the gods
- Intend to marry
- Show your wife the way
- Beget from good lineage
- Master wedding-feasts
- Die for your country
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