Ancient Words Of Wisdom

The sun lights up everything visible.
Humility reaches across everything done according to reason.
Where there is no light, all is in darkness.
Where there is no humility, all is rotten.
( John Climacus, 525 – 606 )

God is one, unoriginate, incomprehensible, possessing completely the total potentiality of being, altogether excluding notions of when and how, inaccessible to all, and not to be known through any natural image by any creature.
( Maximus the Confessor, 580 – 662 )

For God is breath, and the breath of the wind is shared by all.
Nothing shuts it in, nothing holds it prisoner.
( Maximus the Confessor, 580 – 662 )

If sometime, then, in a serene night, you gaze up at the ineffable beauty of the stars, you can form an idea of the creator of the universe, who has embroidered the sky with these flowers, and how in what you see necessity takes the form of the delightful.
Again, during the day, if you consider the wonders of the day with sober thought, and from what you see form an idea of what is invisible, you will become a hearer, fit and made ready for the fullness of this solemn and blessed theatre.
( Basil the Great, 330 -379 )

The deep waters of faith seem turbulent when we peer into them too curiously.
But when contemplated in a spirit of simplicity, they are calm.
The depths of faith are like the waters of Lethe, making us forget all evil.
They will not reveal themselves to the scrutiny of meddlesome reasoning.
Let us therefore sail these waters with simplicity of mind, and so reach the harbour of God’s will.
( Diadochus of Photike, c.400 – c.486 )

We must try to keep the mind in tranquillity.
For just as the eye which is constantly moving about, now turning from side to side, now incessantly peering up and down, cannot see clearly what lies before it, but the sight must be fixed firmly on the object in view if its vision is to be clear, so too the human mind when distracted by countless worldly cares cannot reach out clearly to the truth.
From all this there is but one escape.
Separation from the world altogether.
But withdrawal from the world does not mean being outside it bodily, but breaking off the soul from sympathy with the body.
It also means being ready to receive in one’s heart the impressions engendered there by divine instruction.
( Basil the Great, 330 – 379 )

One who stands beside the sea sees the infinite ocean of the waters, but cannot grasp the extent of them, beholding only a part.
So it is with one who is judged worthy to fix his gaze in contemplation on the infinite ocean of God’s glory and behold him with the intelligence.
He sees not how great God is, but only what the spiritual eyes of his soul can grasp.
Just as one who enters the waters of the sea up to his knees or his waist sees clearly what is outside the water, but if he plunges into the depths and is wholly covered by water, can no longer see anything outside the water, and knows nothing else than that he is in the depths of the sea, so it is with those who increase in spiritual progress and come to the perfection of knowledge and contemplation.
( Symeon the New Theologian, 949 – 1022 )

We are ordered to perform in this world the symbols and signs of the future things so that, through the service of the Sacrament, we may be like men who enjoy symbolically the happiness of the heavenly benefits, and thus acquire a sense of possession and a strong hope of the things for which we look.
( Theodore of Mopsuestia, c.350 – c.428 )

Freedom is the sure possession of those alone who have the courage to defend it.
( Pericles, c.495 BC – 429 BC )

Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel.
( Socrates, c.469 BC – 399 BC )

All men by nature desire to know.
( Aristotle, 384 BC – 322 BC )

When a citizen is in any way distinguished, he is preferred to the public service, not as a matter of ascribed privilege, but as a reward of achieved excellence.
( Pericles, c.495 BC – 429 BC )

There are many formidable things in the world, but there is nothing more formidable than mankind.
( Sophocles, c.496 BC – 406 BC )

We are not angry with our neighbour if he lives as he wishes.
We do not cast sour looks at him which, though harmless, are not pleasant.
( Pericles, c.495 BC – 429 BC )

The unexamined life is not worth living.
( Socrates, c.469 BC – 399 BC )

Time is the wisest counsellor of all.
( Pericles, c.495 BC – 429 BC )

He who is unable to live in society, or who has no need because he is sufficient for himself, must be either a beast or a God.
( Aristotle, 384 BC – 322 BC )

It is never right to do wrong or to require wrong with wrong, or when we suffer evil to defend ourselves by doing evil in return.
( Socrates, c.469 BC – 399 BC )

Not life, but good life, is to be chiefly valued.
( Socrates, c.469 BC – 399 BC )

It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.
( Aristotle, 384 BC – 322 BC )

What you leave behind is not what is engraved on stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.
( Pericles, c.495 BC – 429 BC )

There is only one good, knowledge, and one evil, ignorance.
( Socrates, c.469 BC – 399 BC )

Those who can truly be accounted brave are those who best know the meaning of what is sweet in life and what is terrible, and then go out, undeterred, to meet what is to come.
( Pericles, c.495 BC – 429 BC )

Wise Words Of Confucius …

Do not do unto others what you do not want others to do unto you.

Conduct thyself always with the same prudence as though thou were observed by ten eyes and pointed at by ten fingers.

With coarse grain to eat, with water to drink, and my bended arm for a pillow.
I still have joy in the midst of these things.

As the water shapes itself to the vessel that contains it, so a wise man adapts himself to circumstances.

The gentleman does not promote people merely on the basis of their words.
Nor does he reject words merely because of the person who uttered them.

It matters not how slow you go as long as you do not stop.

The more man meditates upon good thoughts, the better will be his world and the world at large.

No matter how busy you may think you are, you must find time for reading, or surrender yourself to self-chosen ignorance.

I used to take on trust a man’s deeds after having listened to his words.
Now having listened to a man’s words I go on to observe his deeds.

It is more shameful to distrust our friends than to be deceived by them.

The superior man acts before he speaks, and afterwards speaks according to his actions.

If you don’t know, recognise that you don’t know.
If you know, acknowledge that you know.
That is knowledge.

All people are the same.
Only their habits differ.

Let a ruler base his government upon virtuous principles, and he will be like the pole-star, which remains steadfast in its place, while all the host of stars turn towards it.

Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising every time we fall.

If I am walking with two other men, each of them will serve as my teacher.
I will pick out the good points of the one and imitate them, and the bad points of the other and correct them in myself.

Those who cannot forgive others break the bridge over which they themselves must pass.

At fifteen my mind was directed to study, and at thirty I knew where to stand.

Not to discuss with a man worthy of conversation is to waste the man.
To discuss with a man not worthy of conversation is to waste words.
The wise waste neither men nor words.

The scholar who cherishes the love of comfort is not fit to be deemed a scholar.

In his dealings with the world, the gentleman is not invariably for or against anything.
He is on the side of what is moral.

A man should demand much from himself, but little from others.
When you meet a man of worth, think how you may attain to his excellence.
When you meet an unworthy one, then look within and examine yourself.

He who flatters a man is his enemy.
He who tells him of his faults is his maker.

To know, is to know that you know nothing.
That is the meaning of true knowledge.

He who knows all the answers has not been asked all the questions.

Only the wisest and stupidest of men never change.

By three methods we may learn wisdom.
Firstly, by reflection, which is noblest.
Second, by imitation, which is easiest.
And third by experience, which is the bitterest.

Confucius, 551 BC – 479 BC

Words of Solomon ..

How long will you simple ones love your simple ways?
How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?

Discretion will protect you.
And understanding will guard you.

My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment.
Do not let them out of your sight.
They will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck.
Then you will go on your way in safety,
And your foot will not stumble.
When you lie down, you will not be afraid.
When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

Do not withhold good from those who deserve it,
When it is in your power to act.

Do not plot harm against your neighbour,
Who lives trustfully near you.
Do not accuse a man for no reason,
When he has done you no harm.

Get wisdom, get understanding.
Do not forget my words or swerve from them.
Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you.
Love her, and she will watch over you.
Wisdom is supreme.
Therefore get wisdom

Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
Esteem her, and she will exalt you.
Embrace her, and she will honour you.
She will set a garland of grace on your head,
And present you with a crown of splendour.

Listen, for I have worthy things to say.
I open my lips to speak what is right.
My mouth speaks what is true,
For my lips detest wickedness.
All the words of my mouth are just.
None of them is crooked or perverse.
To the discerning all of them are right.
They are faultless to those who have knowledge.
Choose my instruction instead of silver,
Knowledge rather than choice gold.
For wisdom is more precious than rubies,
And nothing you desire can compare with her.

Keep my commands and you will live.
Guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.
Bind them on your fingers.
Write them on the tablet of your heart.
Say to wisdom, “You are my sister”.
And call understanding your kinsman.

I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence.
I possess knowledge and discretion.
I hate pride and arrogance,
Evil behaviour and perverse speech.
Counsel and sound judgment are mine.
I have understanding and power.

Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice.

The highway of the upright avoids evil.
He who guards his way guards his life.

A wicked man listens to evil lips.
A liar pays attention to a malicious tongue.

If a man pays back evil for good,
Evil will never leave his house.

Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam.
So drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.

Of what use is money in the hand of a fool,
Since he has no desire to get wisdom?

He who loves a quarrel loves sin.
He who builds a high gate invites destruction

A man of perverse heart does not prosper.
He whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble.

He who listens to a life-giving rebuke will be at home among the wise.

A cheerful look brings joy to the heart
And good news gives health to the bones.

Solomon, son of King David, c.990 BCE – c.931 BCE