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John Bartlett (1820–1905). Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. 1919.

Page 943

 
 
Diogenes Laërtius. (fl. early 3d cent.)
 
9084
    Alcæus mentions Aristodemus in these lines:—
’T is money makes the man; and he who ’s none
Is counted neither good nor honourable.
          Thales. vii.
9085
    Thales said there was no difference between life and death. “Why, then,” said some one to him, “do not you die?” “Because,” said he, “it does make no difference.”
          Thales. ix.
9086
    When Thales was asked what was difficult, he said, “To know one’s self.” And what was easy, “To advise another.”
          Thales. ix.
9087
    He said that men ought to remember those friends who were absent as well as those who were present.
          Thales. ix.
9088
    The apophthegm “Know thyself” is his. 1
          Thales. xiii.
9089
    Writers differ with respect to the apophthegms of the Seven Sages, attributing the same one to various authors.
          Thales. xiv.
9090
    Solon used to say that speech was the image of actions;… that laws were like cobwebs,—for that if any trifling or powerless thing fell into them, they held it fast; while if it were something weightier, it broke through them and was off.
          Solon. x.
9091
    Solon gave the following advice: “Consider your honour, as a gentleman, of more weight than an oath. Never tell a lie. Pay attention to matters of importance.”
          Solon. xii.
9092
    As some say, Solon was the author of the apophthegm, “Nothing in excess.” 2
          Solon. xvi.
 
Note 1.
See Pope, Quotation 22. Also Plutarch, Quotation 128. [back]
Note 2.
[greek], nequid nimis. [back]